September 28 birthdays
551BC CONFUCIUS Chinese philosopher
Confuscius’s teachings formed the basis of east Asian society. Those teachings remain influential across China and east Asia today.
1836 THOMAS CRAPPER English inventor
An English businessman, he established Thomas Crapper & Co in London. He held nine patents, three of them for the improvement of water closets, such as the floating ballcock. The company opened the world’s first bath, toilet and sink showroom.
1901 ED SULLIVAN American TV personality
The Ed Sullivan Show was broadcast for 23 years from 1948 until 1971. It set a record as the longest-running variety show on American television. In 1995, Sullivan was ranked at 50 on TV Guide’s 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time.
1916 PETER FINCH Australian actor
Finch is best remembered for his role as crazed newsman Howard Beale in the 1976 film Network. He became the first person to win a posthumous Academy Award in an acting role when he was judged Best Actor for the role, which also earned him his fifth BAFTA Best Actor award.
1934 BRIGITTE BARDOT French actor
An aspiring ballet dancer in her younger years, Bardot started her acting career in 1952. She earned international recognition for her role in the 1957 film And God Created Women. She retired from the entertainment industry in 1973.
1935 BRUCE CRAMPTON Australian golfer
Crampton had 14 wins on the PGA tour between 1961 and 1975. He twice won the Vardon Trophy, awarded to the player with the lowest stroke average on the PGA Tour, in 1973 and again in 1975. Crampton was inducted in the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2001.
1947 BOB CARR Australian politician
As Leader of the Labor Party, Carr was the Premier of NSW from 1995 until 2005. He later entered federal politics as a Senator for NSW. He was Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2012 until 2013.