Born 1953

Junior Bridgeman (1953–2025), Milwaukee Bucks co-owner

Junior Bridgeman was a former NBA player who went on to become a successful entrepreneur, owner of Ebony and Jet magazines, and co-owner of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Abdul Salaam (1953–2024), famed New York Jets defenseman

Abdul Salaam was a defensive tackle for the N.Y. Jets in the 1980s, best known as part of the team’s feared and respected New York Sack Exchange foursome that included Mark Gastineau, Marty Lyons, and Joe Klecko.

Drake Hogestyn (1953–2024), longtime star of Days of Our Lives

Drake Hogestyn was an actor best known for his long-running role as John Black on the soap opera “Days of Our Lives.” 

Tito Jackson (1953–2024), Jackson 5 singer and guitarist

Tito Jackson was a singer and guitarist best known for being part of the hit-making group The Jackson 5, who enjoyed four No. 1 hits and launched the career of pop icon . 

Patti Yasutake (1953–2024), Nurse Alyssa Ogawa on Star Trek: TNG

Patti Yasutake was an actress best known for playing Nurse Alyssa Ogawa on “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” a recurring character who also appeared in several “Star Trek” movies.

Evelyn Thomas (1953–2024), disco singer known for High Energy

Evelyn Thomas was a singer best known for her 1984 dance club hit, “High Energy.” 

Patrick Gottsch (1953–2024), founder of RFD-TV and The Cowboy Channel

Patrick Gottsch was a media executive who helped shine a spotlight on rural, western American life via RFD-TV and The Cowboy Channel, both of which he founded.

Jan A.P. Kaczmarek (1953–2024), Oscar-winning composer

Jan A.P. Kaczmarek was a Polish composer who won an Academy Award for Best Original Score in 2005 for “Finding Neverland.” 

Bob Avellini (1953–2024), 1970s Chicago Bears quarterback

Bob Avellini was a quarterback for the Chicago Bears in the 1970s and early ‘80s who threw a famous pass that helped the team to the playoffs in 1977.

U.L. Washington (1953–2024), Kansas City Royals shortstop

U.L. Washington was a shortstop with the Kansas City Royals, Montreal Expos, and Pittsburgh Pirates, known for the ever-present toothpick in the corner of his mouth.

Fulton Kuykendall (1953–2024), Atlanta Falcons linebacker 

Fulton Kuykendall was a linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons in the 1970s and ‘80s as part of their “Gritz Blitz” defense.

David Bouley (1953–2024), top New York City chef 

David Bouley was an influential four-star chef in New York City known for his many TV appearances and the Tribeca restaurant that bore his name.

Donald Kinsey (1953–2024), guitarist for the Kinsey Report, Wailers

Donald Kinsey co-founded the blues group the Kinsey Report alongside his family members, and he played guitar with such artists as Bob Marley and the Wailers.

Carlton Pearson (1953–2023), megachurch founder who denied hell 

Carlton Pearson was a megachurch founder who embraced the idea of universal reconciliation, a fringe Christian doctrine that asserts there is no hell, and all souls will eventually be welcomed by God, and was branded as a heretic by the evangelical fundamentalist church as a result. 

Andy Bean (1953–2023), 11-time PGA Tour winner 

Andy Bean was a professional golfer who won 11 PGA tour events and was inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame.

Dom Famularo (1953–2023), worldwide advocate for drumming

Dom Famularo was a drummer and drum teacher who became renowned and respected for his four decades of advocacy for the art.

Russ Francis (1953–2023), 13-year NFL tight end and pro wrestler 

Russ Francis was a 13-year veteran of the NFL who played tight end for the New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers before becoming a professional wrestler with the American Wrestling Association (AWA) and National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). 

Mike Henderson (1953–2023), co-founder of the SteelDrivers 

Mike Henderson was a Grammy Award-winning country singer-songwriter who co-founded the SteelDrivers and frequently collaborated with country superstar Chris Stapleton, Henderson’s former SteelDrivers bandmate. 

Lisa Lyon (1953–2023), bodybuilder who inspired Marvel’s Elektra

Lisa Lyon was an early pioneer of female bodybuilding and model who inspired Frank Miller’s creation of the assassin Elektra, a sometimes lover, sometimes antagonist of Daredevil in Marvel Comics.

Marcia DeRousse (1953–2023), True Blood actress

Marcia DeRousse was an actress best known for appearing in three seasons of HBO’s “True Blood” as Dr. Patricia Ludwig. 

Nancy Frangione (1953–2023), soap opera star villain

Nancy Frangione was a soap opera star whose 20-year-long career included shows like “All My Children” and “One Life to Live,” and is best known for playing the villainous Cecile de Poulignac on “Another World.”

Robert “Beatle Bob” Matonis (1953–2023), St. Louis music superfan 

Robert “Beatle Bob” Matonis was a St. Louis man known widely for his enthusiastic dancing at concerts he attended every day for decades.

Jacklyn Zeman (1953–2023), General Hospital star 

Jacklyn Zeman was an actress who starred on “General Hospital” as Barbara “Bobbie” Spencer for more than 40 years.

Ian Bairnson (1953–2023), guitarist for Kate Bush, Alan Parsons Project 

Ian Bairnson was a Scottish guitarist who played on hits for Kate Bush, the Alan Parsons Project, and Pilot.

Michael Rhodes (1953–2023), bassist on How Do I Live

Michael Rhodes was a bass player known for his work on Nashville hits including “I Hope You Dance” and “How Do I Live.”

Robbie Bachman (1953–2023), Bachman-Turner Overdrive drummer

Robbie Bachman was the drummer for Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO), known for 1970s hits including “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet.”

Albert Pyun (1953–2022), “The Sword and the Sorcerer” director  

Albert Pyun  was a director known for his low budget direct to video cult films including “The Sword and the Sorcerer” and “Cyborg.”  

Bruce Sutter (1953–2022), Hall of Fame pitcher

Bruce Sutter was a Baseball Hall of Fame reliever who won the Cy Young award in 1979. 0

Yoko Shimada (1953–2022), star of “Shōgun”

Yoko Shimada was a Japanese actress who starred in the popular 1980 miniseries “Shōgun.”

Jessie Duarte (1953–2022), aide to Nelson Mandela

Jessie Duarte was a South African anti-apartheid activist who was an aide to the country’s first Black president, .

Louie Anderson (1953–2022), Emmy-winning “Baskets” star and comedian

Louie Anderson was a comedian and actor who starred in “Baskets” and created the cartoon series “Life With Louie.”

Robbie Shakespeare (1953–2021), Sly and Robbie bassist

Robbie Shakespeare was the bassist in the legendary rhythm section Sly and Robbie.

Nanci Griffith (1953–2021), Grammy-winning singer and songwriter

Nanci Griffith was a folk and country music singer and songwriter known for songs including “Love at the Five and Dime” and “From a Distance.”

Patrick O’Connell (1953–2021), developed red ribbon for HIV/AIDS awareness

Patrick O’Connell was the founding director of Visual AIDS, where he developed programs for HIV/AIDS awareness including the red ribbon.

Ron Wright (1953–2021), U.S. Representative from Texas

Ron Wright was a Republican U.S. Representative from Texas’ 6th congressional district, in the Arlington area.

Leon Spinks (1953–2021), former heavyweight boxing champ

Leon Spinks was a boxer who became the heavyweight champion in 1978 after beating in a shocking upset.

Randy Parton (1953–2021), country singer-songwriter and Dolly Parton’s brother

Randy Parton was a country music singer and songwriter who was Dolly Parton’s younger brother.

Hal Ketchum (1953–2020), "Small Town Saturday Night" singer

Hal Ketchum was a country music star known for the song "Small Town Saturday Night."

Tyrone Proctor (1953–2020), legendary “Soul Train” dancer who pioneered waacking

Tyrone “The Bone” Proctor was a dancer and choreographer who became known as a regular dancer on “Soul Train,” where he popularized the dance style waacking.

Betty Wright (1953–2020), Grammy-winning soul and R&B singer

Betty Wright was a soul and R&B singer known for songs including “Clean Up Woman,” “Tonight Is the Night,” and “Where Is the Love.”

Brian Howe (1953–2020), former Bad Company singer

Brian Howe was the former lead vocalist with rock group Bad Company, taking over for Paul Rogers in 1986.

Big Al Carson (1953–2020), legendary New Orleans blues singer

Big Al Carson was a renowned blues singer who was a fixture of the New Orleans music scene.

John Callahan (1953–2020), “All My Children” star

John Callahan was an actor best known for starring as Edmund Grey on the soap opera All My Children.He was also a regular on Santa Barbara and the primetime soap Falcon Crest. Outside of soaps,he appeared on Desperate Housewives and The Bay.

Esther Scott (1953–2020), “Boyz n the Hood,” “Birth of a Nation” actress

Esther Scott  was an actress whose many roles included Tisha’s grandmother in “Boyz n the Hood” (1991) and Nat Turner’s grandmother Bridget in “The Birth of a Nation” (2016). On TV, she starred as Gladys on the short-lived “Geena Davis Show,” and she had a recurring role on “Hart of Dixie” as Delma Warner.

Tom Lyle (1953–2019), comic book artist known for “Spider-Man” and “Robin”

Tom Lyle was a comic book artist for both Marvel and DC, known for co-creating “Starman” and working on “Spider-Man” and the “Robin” miniseries and its sequels.

Kay Hagan (1953–2019), former North Carolina senator

Kay Hagan was the first Democratic woman elected to the U.S. Senate from North Carolina. In 2008 she was a state senator when she beat Republican Elizabeth Dole. She lost her seat in 2014 to Republican Thom Tillis in a close contest that was one of the most expensive Senate races ever. In the Senate, Hagan was a strong advocate for women and a prominent backer of the Affordable Care Act. After discovering that the U.S. Senate swimming pool was for men only, she worked with Senator Chuck Schumer to end that practice.

Marca Bristo (1953–2019), advocate championed Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990

Marca Bristo, advocate for the disabled, who championed the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, died Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019, in Chicago, after a battle with cancer. She was 66.

Celso Pina (1953–2019), legendary Mexican accordionist

Celso Pina was a legendary Mexican accordionist and singer known as “The Accordion Rebel.” He taught himself to play the accordion with no formal training. Pina was a very important musician in the genre of Cumbia music. He was a pioneer in combining tropical music with modern music such as hip-hop, reggae, ska, and other music styles. He released more than 20 albums in his career and toured around the world, including the United States.

Barbara March (1953–2019), played Lursa Duras in “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “Deep Space Nine”

Barbara March was an actress best known for playing Lursa, one of the Klingon Duras sisters, in “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” and the feature film “Star Trek Generations.”