Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in History for Feb. 8: In 1587, Mary, Queen of Scots, was beheaded. After attempting to restore Catholicism to Scotland and two disastrous marriages, she was forced to abdicate and fled to England in 1567.

Today in Music History for Feb. 8: In 1899, blues guitarist and singer Lonnie Johnson was born in New Orleans.

Celebrity Birthdays for Feb. 9: Actress Janet Suzman is 86. Pop songwriter Barry Mann is 86. Nobel Prize-winning author J.M. Coetzee is 85. Drummer Brian Bennett (The Shadows) is 85.

Celebrity Birthdays for Feb. 15: Actress Claire Bloom is 94. Author Susan Brownmiller is 90. Songwriter Brian Holland (Holland-Dozier-Holland) is 84. Drummer Mick Avory of The Kinks is 81. Jazz saxophonist Henry Threadgill is 81.

Celebrity Birthdays for Feb. 12: Movie director Costa-Gavras is 92. Actor Joe Don Baker is 89. Author Judy Blume is 87. Country singer Moe Bandy is 81. Actress Maud Adams (``Octopussy'') is 80. Actor Cliff DeYoung is 80. Actor Michael Ironside is 75.

Celebrity Birthdays for Feb. 14: Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is 83. Jazz saxophonist Maceo Parker is 82. Folk singer and songwriter Eric Andersen is 82. Journalist Carl Bernstein is 81.

Celebrity Birthdays for Feb. 11: Actress Tina Louise (``Gilligan's Island'') is 91. Canada's Sports Hall of Fame track and field athlete Abby Hoffman is 78. Derek Shulman, of the British progressive rock group Gentle Giant, is 78.

Celebrity Birthdays for Feb. 13: Actress Kim Novak is 92. Actor Bo Svenson (``Walking Tall'') is 84. Actress Stockard Channing is 81. U.S. College basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski is 78. Singer Peter Gabriel is 75. Actor David Naughton is 74.

Celebrity Birthdays for Feb. 10: Opera singer Leontyne Price is 98. Actor Robert Wagner is 95. Singer Roberta Flack is 88. Former governor general Adrienne Clarkson is 86. Singer Jimmy Merchant of Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers is 85.

Today in History for Feb. 17: In 1673, French playwright Moliere died after collapsing during a performance of his play, ``The Imaginary Invalid.'' In 1781, Dr. Rene Laennec, inventor of the stethoscope, was born in France. He died in 1826.