Today’s birthdays:
Walter Pilliet, New Zealand politician/ newspaper editor (18401885); William Watson Bird, New Zealand educational administrator (18701954); Edmund Anscombe, New Zealand architect (18741948); Perrine Moncrieff, New Zealand author/conservationist (18931979); Vida Eliza Jowett, New Zealand women's military administrator (18931982); Ruth Wilkinson, New Zealand community leader/historian (19011985); Dame Margaret Laurence Salas, New Zealand peace activist/ feminist (19222017); John Williams, US composer/conductor (1932); Chas Poynter, New Zealand local body politician (19392007); Nick Nolte, US actor (1941); Paul Maunder, New Zealandborn film director/playwright (1945); Peter Gluckman, New Zealand scientist (1949); Peter Wells, New Zealand writer/ filmmaker (19502019); Mary Steenburgen, US actress (1953); Alistair Browning, New Zealand actor (19542019); John Grisham, US author (1955); Ben Hana (Blanket Man), New Zealand vagrant (19572012); Vince Neil, US singer (1961); Mika Haka, New Zealand entertainer/actor/filmmaker (1962); Pauly Fuemana, New Zealand singer/songwriter (19692010); Mary McCormack, US actress (1969); Stephanie Courtney, US actress (1970); Seth Green, US actor (1974); Kaytee Boyd, New Zealand cyclist (1978); Cecily Strong, US actress (1984); Anna Hutchison, New Zealand actress (1986).