Birthdates which occurred on your SELECTED date of December 21:
1117 Thomas Becket archbishop of Canterbury
1518 Mark van Vaernewijck Flemish nobleman/politician
1537 Johan III king of Sweden (1569-92)
1573 Mathurin Régnier French poet (Macette)
1616 Pietro Andrea Ziani composer
1628 Samuel Friedrich Capricornus composer
1639 Jean Racin writer
1728 Hermann Friedrich Raupach composer
1756 Thomas Anton Kunz composer
1800 Barnwell Rhett Robert (Confederacy), died in 1876
1804 Benjamin Disraeli (Tory) British PM (1868, 1874-80)
1810 Ludwig Schuncke composer
1815 Thomas Couture French painter/author
1818 Amalia wife of king Otto of Greece
1818 Lewis H Morgan US, etnologist (Systems of Consanguinity)
1823 Jean Henri Fabre France, entomologist (insects & spiders)
1826 Ernst Pauer composer
1832 John Henry Ketcham Brevet Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1906
1840 Mehmed N Kemal Turkish journalist (Vatan)
1848 Edward Everett Rice composer
1849 James Lane Allen US writer (Kentucky Cardinal)
1850 Zdenek Fibich composer
1853 Isolde Kurz German writer/poetess (Meine Mutter)
1859 Gustave Kahn France, poet (claimed to have invented vers libre)
1860 Henrietta Szold founder (Hadassah)
1867 John Winter Thompson composer
1872 Albert P Terhune US, novelist (Lad, a Dog)
1874 Juan Bautista Sacasa President of Nicaragua (1932-36)
1879 Joseph Stalin [Dzoegashvili] Russian dictator; murdered 11,000,000
1879 Theodore Limperg business economist (substitute value)
1886 George Norman Peterkin composer
1886 Hermann A J Kees German Egyptologist (Problems of Egyptology)
1890 Fred M Vinson US Supreme Court Justice (1946-53)
1891 John W McCormack (D) Speaker of the House (1962-70)
1892 Dame Rebecca West [Cicily I F Andrews] England, journalist/novelist/critic/feminist (Meaning of Treason)
1892 Walter Hagen Rochester NY, PGA golfer (US Open 1914, 1919)
1895 Paul Hoffer composer
1896 Carl Romme Dutch catholic foreman/KVP-Minister of Socialist Business
1896 Constantine Rokossovski Russian marshal/vice-premier of Poland
1896 Leroy Robertson composer
1898 Eugène Dabit French writer/painter (Hôtel du Nord)
1898 Ira S Bowen US physicist/astronomer (Mount Wilson/Palomar)
1899 Guy Wilkerson Texas, actor (Dead or Alive, West of Texas, Shootin' Iron)
19-- Danielle Von Zerneck actress (General Hospital)
19-- Devon Ericson Salt Lake City UT, actress (Studs Lonigan, Chisholms)
19-- Ray Acevedo rocker (Menudo-Cannonball)
1900 Oda Schaefer German author/poet (Die Windharfe, Ladies Only)
1900 Wischnewski writer
1901 Juan A de Zunzunegui y Loredo Spanish writer
1901 Robin Irvine London England, actor (Easy Virtue)
1905 Anthony Powell England, novelist (Infants of the Spring)
1907 Garmt Stuiveling Dutch literary (Poet in Love)
1908 Pat Weaver Los Angeles CA, TV Executive, started Today show
1909 George Ball Iowa, lawyer/UnderSecretary of state
1909 Seichô Matsumoto Dutch Japanese detective/playwright (10 to Sen)
1911 Josh Gibson pro baseball player, "Negro Babe Ruth" (hit 800+ homeruns)
1911 Paul Burkhard composer
1913 Raich Carter soccer star
1916 Eve Perrick journalist
1916 John Boon publisher
1917 Alicia Alonso Havana Cuba, ballerina (American Ballet Theatre)
1917 Andre Eglevsky choreographer (Limelight)
1917 Heinrich Böll Germany, writer (Group Portrait with Lady, Nobel '72)
1918 Donald Regan White House staffer/US Secretary of Treasury (1981-85)
1918 Kurt Waldheim Nazi/4th UN Secretary-General (1972-81)/Austrian President (1986-92)
1919 Gert Fredriksson Sweden, 1K kayak (Olympics-gold-1948, 52, 56)
1921 Alica Alonso Havana, ballerina
1921 James Tye safety expert
1921 Joan Dickson cellist
1922 Paul Winchell New York NY, ventriloquist (Jerry Mahoney, Knucklehead Smith)
1924 Joe Paterno football coach (Penn State, SI Sportsman of 1986)
1924 Johan W "Jo" van Marle KNVB-chairman (1980-93)
1924 Rita Reys [Maria Reijs] Dutch jazz singer
1926 Pedro Gonzales-Gonzalez Aguilares TX, actor (Rio Bravo)
1926 John Herbert McDowell composer
1927 Michael Carreras film director
1928 Ed Nelson New Orleans LA, actor (Peyton Place, Along Came a Spider)
1928 Thomas Rajna composer
1929 Jack Philip Cannon composer
1930 Willem R "Wim" van der Zee Secretary of Council of Churches
1931 David Baker Indianapolis IN, composer (Reflections)
1931 Caroline Kaart [Paterson Raitt] Dutch alto singer
1932 Ilja Zeljenka composer
1933 Huib Eversdijk Dutch 2nd chamber member (CDA)
1933 Jackie Hendriks cricketer (West Indian wicket-keeper of 60's)
1933 Miklos Kocsar composer
1934 Hanif Mohammad cricketer (prolific Pakistani batsman 1952-69)
1935 Phil Donahue Cleveland OH, talk show host (Phil Donahue Show)
1937 Jane Fonda New York NY, actress (Barbarella, Klute), physically fit
1937 Harald Crown Prince, son of King Olav V, heir apparent of Norway
1938 Larry Bryggman Concord CA, actor (Dr John Dixon-As the World Turns)
1940 Paul [Ray Hildebrand] Texas, singer (Hey Paula)
1940 Frank Zappa Baltimore MD, composer/musician/satirist (Mothers of Invention, Catholic Girls)
1942 Carla Thomas US singer (Let Me Be Good to You)
1943 Albert Lee rocker
1943 Jack Nance actor (Rubbed Out)
1943 Walter Spanghero French rugby player
1944 Jared Martin New York NY, actor (Varian-Fantastic Voyage, Dusty-Dallas)
1944 Michael Tilson Thomas Los Angeles CA, conductor (New York Philharmonic for Young People)
1945 Doug Walters cricketer (Aussie batting genius 1965-81 Extrovert)
1945 Millie Hughes-Fulford Wells TX, astronaut (STS 40)
1946 Christopher Keene Berkeley CA, conductor (La Traviata)
1946 Carl Dean Wilson Hawthorne CA, rock vocalist (Beach Boys-Barbie)
1946 Josh Mostel New York, actor (Windy City, Animal Behavior, Money Pit)
1948 Barry Gordon Brookline MA, actor (Gary-Archie Bunker's Place)
1948 Carol Potter New York NY, actress (Beverly Hills 90210, Maggie Clinton-Today's FBI)
1948 Dave Kingman baseball player (Mets, Yankees, Giants)
1948 Samuel L Jackson actor (Amos & Andrew, White Sand, Pulp Fiction)
1948 Willem Vermeend Dutch economist/UnderSecretary of Finance (1994-)
1952 Dennis Boutsikaris Newark NJ, actor (Batteries Not Included)
1952 Steve Furniss US swimmer (Olympics-bronze-1972)
1953 Andras Schiff Budapest Hungary, pianist (Tchaikovsky-1974)
1953 Arie Luyendyk Netherlands, Indy-car racer (1990 Indianapolis 500)
1953 Betty Wright US gospel/singer/TV hostess (Little Miss Broadway)
1953 Tina Brown journalist (New Yorker)
1954 Chris Evert Lloyd Mills Fort Lauderdale, tennis pro 'Miss Pokerface'
1955 Jane Kaczmarek Milwaukee WI, actress (Lois-Malcolm in the Middle, Mary-Hometown)
1956 Kevin Burnham Hollis NY, 470 yachter (Olympics-8th-1992, 96)
1956 Lee Roy Parnell Abilene TX, country singer (Oughta be a Law)
1957 Joshua Mostel New York NY, actor (Delta House, At Ease)
1957 Lisa Gerritsen Los Angeles CA, actress (Bess-Mary Tyler Moore Show)
1957 Ray Romano Queens NY, actor (Ray Barone-Everybody Loves Raymond)
1959 Florence Griffith Joyner Los Angeles CA, runner (3 Olympics-gold-1988)
1960 Andy Van Slyke baseball player
1960 Michael Swain Elizabeth NJ, judoka (Olympics-bronze-88)
1960 Roger McDowell Cincinnati OH, pitcher (New York Mets, Baltimore Orioles)
1961 Trevor Bayliss cricketer (New South Wales batsman)
1962 Christy Forester Lookout Mountain GA, country singer (Forester Sister-Men)
1964 Ed Jongsma Dutch pop bassist (Sleeze Beez-Look Like Hell)
1964 Joey Kocur Calgary, NHL right wing (Vancouver Canucks)
1964 Keith Taylor NFL safety (Washington Redskins)
1965 Andy Dick Charleston SC, actor (Matthew-Newsradio)
1965 Gabrielle Glaser musician (Luscious Jackson)
1965 Rodney Thomas WLAF cornerback (Barcelona Dragons)
1965 Sue Thomas Texarkana TX, LPGA golfer (1991 Orix Hawaiian Ladies-14th)
1967 Kristi Cooke Marion OH, Miss Ohio-America (1991)
1967 Ervin Johnson NBA center (Seattle Supersonics, Milwaukee Bucks)
1967 Terry Mills NBA forward (Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons)
1968 Khrystyne Haje Santa Clara CA, actress (Simone-Head of the Class)
1968 Anthony Lynn NFL running back (Denver Broncos-Superbowl 32)
1969 Chuck Smith NFL defensive end (Atlanta Falcons)
1969 Julie Delpy actress (Before Sunrise)
1969 Leon Searcy NFL offensive tackle (Pittsburgh Steelers, Jackson Jaguars)
1970 Irving Spikes NFL running back (Miami Dolphins)
1970 Monique Ambers WNBA forward (Phoenix Mercury)
1970 Ronnie Woolfork WLAF linebacker (Frankfurt Galaxy)
1971 Ernest Hunter NFL running back (Cleveland Browns)
1971 Irena Slavutskay Israel, athlete (Olympics-1996)
1971 Jey Phillips WLAF DB (Amsterdam Admirals)
1971 Tommie Boyd NFL/WLAF receiver (Detroit Lions, Rhein Fire)
1973 Mike Alstott fullback (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
1974 Karrie Webb Ayr Queensland Australia, LPGA golfer (1994 Australian Strokeplay)
1974 Raymond Austin cornerback/safety (New York Jets)
1978 Amber Corwin Harbor City CA, figure skater (1997 Nationals - 5th)
1978 Michael Vitar Los Angeles CA, actor (D2, D3, Sunset Grill, Sandlot Kids)
Deaths which occurred on December 21:
0918 Conrad I Duke of Franconia/German King (911-918), dies
1308 Henry I the Child, 1st landgrave of Hessen (1256-1308), dies
1375 Giovanni Boccaccio Italian poet (Vita di Dante, Decameron), dies
1429 Jacquemart de Bléharies Tournay "heretic", burned to death
1579 Juan de Juanes [Vicente Juan Maçip] Spanish ecclesiastical painter, dies at 56
1597 Petrus Canisius Dutch jesuit/saint, dies at 76
1674 Rutger van Haersolte viceroy of Overijsselse, dies at about 66
1734 Philipp Hyacinth Lobkowitz composer, dies at 54
1736 Alessandro Galilei Italian architect (Cappella Corsini), dies at 45
1755 Caspar Ruetz composer, dies at 47
1765 Joseph Thaddäus Stammel Austrian sculptor, dies at 70
1820 Charles-François Dumonchau composer, dies at 45
1859 Nicolaas C Kist Dutch church historian/archivist, dies at 66
1864 William Henry Fry composer, dies at 51
1889 Joseph B Lightfoot English theologist/bishop of Durham, dies at 61
1890 Niels Vilhelm Gade Danish composer, dies at 73
1906 Adalbert von Goldschmidt composer, dies at 58
1907 Oskar Lassar German dermatologist (public baths), dies at 58
1914 A O Jones cricketer (12 Tests for England 1899-1909), dies
1920 Claude Tozer cricketer (dashing New South Wales batsman, shot to death
1921 P B S Pinchback major Reconstruction politician, dies at 84
1927 Jack Saunders cricketer (79 wickets-14 Tests for Australia 1902-08), dies
1928 Harry Butt cricketer (England wicket-keeper vs South Africa 1895-96), dies
1928 Luigi Cadorna Italian fieldmarshal (WWI, Caporetto), dies at 78
1931 John-French Cantré Flemish wood carver/painter/cartoonist, dies at 45
1933 Knud J V Rasmussen Danish Pole explorer (Thule), dies at 54
1935 Kurt Tucholsky German journalist/writer (Panter, Tiger & Co), dies at 45
1937 Frank Kellog US foreign minister (Nobel 1929), dies at 80
1940 F[rancis] Scott [Key] Fitzgerald author (Great Gatsby, Zelda), dies of a heart attack in Hollywood at 44
1942 Leendert Round sculptor (Giraffen, Blijdorp), dies at 63
1945 George S Patton US general (Sicily/Normandy), dies in car accident in Heidelberg at 60
1948 Seishiro Itagaki Japanese general/Minister of War, hanged
1955 Dorothy Bernard actress (Margaret-Life With Father), dies at 65
1956 Lewis M Terman psychologist (Genetic studies of genius), dies at 79
1957 Eric Coates composer, dies at 71
1958 H[arry] B[yron] Warner actor (10 Commandments, New Moon), dies at 83
1958 Lion Feuchtwanger philosopher/writer (Der falsche Nero), dies at 74
1963 Jack Hobbs cricketer (61 Tests for England), dies
1965 Claude Adonai Champagne composer, dies at 74
1967 Louis Washkansky dies 18 days after 1st heart transplant at 55
1967 Stuart Erwin actor (Trouble With Father), dies of heart attack at 64
1972 Horace Mann Bond president of Lincoln University (Pennsylvania), dies at 70
1974 Richard Long actor (Professor-Nanny & the Professor), dies at 47
1975 William Lundigan announcer (CBS Mystery Theater), dies at 61
1976 Edward Bartlett cricketer (West Indies Test batsman in 5 Tests 1928-31), dies
1979 Bill Anderson cricketer (Test for New Zealand 1946, scored five & one), dies
1980 Marc Connelly playwright (One Minute Please), dies at 90
1983 Rod Cameron actor (Santa Fe Passage, Stampede), dies at 73
1987 Robert Paige actor (Son of Dracula, Pardon My Sarong), dies
1988 Bob Steele [Robert Bradbury] dies after short illness at 60
1988 Nicholas Tinbergen Dutch/British biologist, dies at 81
1989 Jan Cikker composer, dies at 78
1992 Albert King US blues singer/guitarist (Crosscut Saw), dies at 71
1992 Nathan Milstein Ukrainian/US violist (Beethoven, Bach), dies at 87
1992 Stella Adler US actress (Love on Toast), dies at 90
1992 Sybil Andrews English/Canada painter, dies at 94
1993 Philip Christison British general (Rangoon), dies at 100
1994 Dean Rusk US Secretary of State, dies at 85
1994 Shauna McDonald Brown British TV producer, dies at 37
1995 Robert Francis Vere Heuston professor of law, dies at 72
1995 Trenchard Cox museum director, dies at 90
1996 Margaret E Rey author of children's books, dies at 90
1996 Olga Maria Nicolis di Robilant patron of the arts, dies at 96
1997 Bruce Woodcock boxer, dies at 76
1997 Juzo Itami film director/actor (Lord Jim, Yuuguremade), dies at 64
1997 Michael Lyne air-marshal, dies at 78
Reported: MISSING in ACTION
( Expanded with full Bios, history, & MIA report )
1966 GLENN DANNY ELLOY MUSKOGEE OK 03/04/73 RELEASED BY DRV ALIVE AND WELL 98
1967 SCURLOCK LEE D. RESTFUL LAKE OH
1968 ALLEE RICHARD K. PORT JERVIS NY REMAINS RETURNED 1996 REMAINS IDENTIFIED 04/30/98
1972 BEBUS CHARLES J. MINNEAPOLIS MN REMAINS RETURNED 11/88
1972 BEENS LYNN R. SALT LAKE CITY UT 03/27/73 RELEASED BY DRV ALIVE IN 98
1972 BIRCH JOEL RAY PHOENIZ AZ NOT ON OFFICIAL DIA LIST. PARTIAL REMS RECOVERED 1972
1972 CRADDOCK RANDALL J. NORMAN OK REMAINS RETURNED 05/89
1972 CAFFARELLI CHARLES J. TYRONE PA
1972 DARR CHARLES E. LITTLE ROCK AR CREW MEMBERS BODY RETURNED REMAINS RETURNED 1988
1972 DICKENS DELMA E. OMEGA GA DEAD REMAINS RETURNED 02/21/85
1972 ELLIOTT ROBERT T. EL DORADO AR DEAD REMAINS RETURNED 02/21/85
1972 FENTER CHARLES F. TUCSON AZ DEAD -REMAINS RETURNED 02/21/85 FAMILY NOT ACCEPT
1972 FULLER JAMES R. CIBOLO TX DEAD REMAINS RETURNED 02/21/85 ID RECINDED
1972 GOULD FRANK A. NEW YORK NY
1972 GRAUSTEIN ROBERT STEWART FRYEBURG ME REMAINS RETURNED 12/04/85
1972 HART THOMAS T. III ORLANDO FL DEAD REMAINS RETURNED 02/21/85 ID RECINDED
1972 HEGGEN KEITH R. RENWICK IA 03/13/74 REMAINS RETURNED
1972 HIGDON KENNETH H. SAN FRANCISCO CA 02/12/73 RELEASED BY DRV INJURED ALIVE IN 99
1972 JOHNSON EDWARD H. NEWBURG OR NO SUBSQUENT INTEL INFO REMAINS RETURNED 05/89
1972 KIRBY BOBBY A. ALTANTA GA REMAINS RETURNED 07/25/89
1972 KROBOTH STANLEY N. SAVANNAH GA DEAD REMAINS RETURNED 02/21/85
1972 LAGERWALL HARRY R. CARMEL NY DEAD REMAINS RECOVERED 02/21/85
1972 LILES ROBERT L. JR. SHREVEPORT LA DEAD REMAINS RECOVERED 02/21/85
1972 LOCKHART GEORGE B. SULPHUR SPRINGS TX REMAINS RETURNED 04/89
1972 LOLLAR JAMES L. KILMICHAEL MS 03/29/73 RELEASED BY DRV
1972 LYNN ROBERT R. JACKSONVILLE IL REMAINS RETURNED 06/89
1972 MAC DONALD GEORGE D. EVANSTON IL DEAD REMAINS RETURNED 02/21/85 ID RECINDED
1972 MEDER PAUL O. JAMICA NY REMAINS RETURNED 02/21/85
1972 NAGAHIRO JAMES Y. HONOLULU HI 03/29/73 RELEASED BY DRV ALIVE IN 98
1972 NAKAGAWA GORDON R. NEW CASTLE CA 03/29/73 RELEASED BY DRV ALIVE AND WELL 98
1972 PERRY RONALD D. GALLATIN TN 12/21/75 SRV RETURNED REMAINS
1972 REAID ROLLIE K. DORA AL DEAD REMAINS RETURNED 02/01/85
1972 WADE BARTON S. JASPER IN REMAINS RETURNED 12/04/85
1972 WALSH FRANCIS A. WESTPORT CT DEAD REMAINS RETURNED 02/21/85
1972 WALTERS DONOVAN K. LEBANON NE REMAINS RETURNED 12/15/88
1972 WINNINGHAM JOHN Q. GROVER CITY CA DEAD REMAINS RETURNED 02/21/85