Today in History

Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 9: Actor Kirk Douglas is 101. Actor-writer Buck Henry is 87. Country singer-songwriter Billy Edd Wheeler is 85. Actress Dame Judi Dench is 83. Actor Beau Bridges is 76.

Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 8: Pianist, arranger and conductor Jimmy Wisner is 86. Flutist James Galway is 78. Singer Jerry Butler is 78. Drummer Bobby Elliott of The Hollies is 76. Actress Mary Woronov is 74. Singer-songwriter Bertie Higgins is 73.

Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 7: Danish pianist Bent Fabric is 93. Bluegrass singer Bobby Osborne of the Osborne Brothers is 86. Actress Ellen Burstyn is 85. Country singer Hugh X. Lewis is 85. Soprano Heather Thomson is 77.

Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 6: Comedy performer David Ossman is 81. Actor Patrick Bauchau is 79. '60s pop singer Steve Alaimo is 78. Country singer Helen Cornelius is 76. Actor James Naughton is 72. Singer Frank Beverly of Maze is 71.

Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 5: Singer Little Richard is 85. Author Joan Didion is 83. Author Calvin Trillin is 82. Actor Jeroen Krabbe ("The Fugitive") is 73. Opera singer Jose Carreras is 71. Singer Jim Messina (Loggins and Messina, Poco) is 70.

Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 4: Hockey Hall of Fame centre Alex Delvecchio is 86. Game show host Wink Martindale is 84. Singer Freddy (Boom Boom) Cannon is 81. Actor-producer-director Max Baer Jr. ("The Beverly Hillbillies") is 80.

Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 3: Director Jean-Luc Godard is 87. Singer Jaye P. Morgan ("The Gong Show") is 86. Actor Nicolas Coster is 84. Actress Mary Alice is 76. British singer and actor Paul Nicholas is 73. Rock singer Ozzy Osbourne is 69.

Today in History for Dec. 16: On this date: In 1653, Oliver Cromwell became lord protector of England, Scotland and Ireland.

Today in History for Dec. 15: On this date: In 1791, the U.S. Bill of Rights went into effect, following ratification by Virginia. In 1890, Chief Sitting Bull, whose Sioux forces had wiped out Gen.

Today in History for Dec. 14: On this date: In 1503, French physician and prophet Nostradamus was born. He remains famous today for his book “The Prophecies,” which was first published in 1555.