Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 23: Actor Ronnie Schell ("Gomer Pyle, USMC") is 92. Emperor Akihito of Japan is 90. Guitarist Jorma Kaukonen (Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna) is 83. Actor-comedian Harry Shearer ("This Is Spinal Tap", "The Simpsons") is 80.

Today in Music History for Dec. 23: In 1893, the Engelbert Humperdinck opera "Haensel und Gretel" was first performed, in Weimar, Germany. In 1935, singer Little Esther Phillips was born in Galveston, Texas.

Today in History for Dec. 23: In 1771, Mother Marie Marguerite D'Youville, the founder of the Grey Nuns or Sisters of Charity, died in Montreal.

Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 28: Actress Dame Maggie Smith ("Harry Potter") is 89. Singer-keyboardist Edgar Winter is 77. Drummer Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste of The Meters is 75. Pianist Richard Clayderman is 70. Actor Denzel Washington is 69.

Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 24: Dr. Anthony Fauci is 83. Recording company executive Mike Curb is 79. Comedian Steve Smith ("Red Green Show") is 78. Guitarist Jan Akkerman is 77. Actor Grand L. Bush is 68.

Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 26: Singer Abdul "Duke" Fakir of The Four Tops is 88. Hockey Hall of Fame forward Norm Ullman is 88. "America's Most Wanted" host John Walsh is 78. Keyboardist Bob Carpenter with The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is 77.

Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 25: Author Anne Roiphe is 88. Jazz keyboardist Bob James is 84. Actress Hanna Schygulla ("Barnum," ''Casanova") is 80. Singer John Edwards of The Spinners is 79. Actor Gary Sandy ("WKRP In Cincinnati") is 78.

Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 29: Former ABC newscaster Tom Jarriel is 89. Actress Barbara Steele is 86. Actor Jon Voight is 85. Singer-commedienne Dinah Christie is 81. Singer Marianne Faithfull is 77. Hall of Fame Jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. is 77.

Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 27: Actor John Amos ("Men In Trees," ''The West Wing") is 84. Mike Pinder, keyboard player and vocalist with the Moody Blues, is 81. Guitarist Mick Jones of Foreigner is 79. Singer Tracy Nelson is 79.

Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 30: Actor Russ Tamblyn is 89. Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax is 88. Singer Noel Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul and Mary is 86. Director James Burrows ("Cheers," ''Taxi") is 83.