BORN ON THIS DAY

JERRy SIEGEL (1914-96). The American cartoonist created Superman, a character that came to him one sleepless night in 1934. He and co-creator Joe Shuster sold their creation to DC Comics for $130 and lost a series of lawsuits to try to recover their rights. Siegel once said: ‘I can’t stand to look at a Superman comic book.’ MONTGOMERy CLIFT (1920-66). The American star of From Here to Eternity and A Place In The Sun ( in which he co-starred with Elizabeth Taylor, pictured) was one of Hollywood’s first Method actors. The bachelor objected to being called a loner, saying: ‘The reason I don’t go to nightclubs is because that is where you find the really lonely.’