BORN ON THIS DAY

FRED ASTAIRE (1899-1987). The U.S. actor was born Frederick Austerlitz, and starred in 30 musicals, including 11 with Ginger Rogers. As a teenager, Astaire was described as ‘ apparently boneless’ and remained active all his life — at 78 he broke his wrist falling off his grandson’s skateboard. He wed twice — the second time to 35-year- old former jockey when he was 81. JOHN WILKES BOOTH (1838-1865). He assassinated president Abraham Lincoln as part of an unsuccessful conspiracy that aimed to help the South win the U.S. civil war. Booth was a famous actor described as ‘the Leonardo DiCaprio of his day’.