Born April 12

The Vivienne (1992–2025), RuPaul's Drag Race UK star

The Vivienne was a British drag performer best known as the 2019 winner of “RuPaul's Drag Race UK” and competitor on the 2022 season of "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars." 

Bertie Bowman (1931–2023), long-serving Congressional aide 

Bertie Bowman was a long-serving Congressional aide on Capitol Hill who got his start sweeping steps and ended his career as the longtime hearings manager for the Foreign Relations Committee.

Jane Withers (1926–2021), child star and “Josephine the Plumber” in commercials

Jane Withers was an actress who was a child star in the 1930s and later became known for Comet cleanser commercials, where she played Josephine the Plumber.

Suzzanne Douglas (1957–2021), actress known for “The Parent ‘Hood,” “Tap”

Suzzanne Douglas was an actress known for roles in TV shows and movies including “The Parent ‘Hood,” “Tap,” and “When Stella Got Her Groove Back.”

Beverly Cleary (1916–2021), award-winning “Ramona” series author

Beverly Cleary penned award-winning books for children and young adults including the popular "Ramona" series, notably the National Book Award-winning “Ramona and Her Mother” as well as “Ramona the Brave,” “Ramona Quimby, Age 8,” and “Ramona Forever.”

Rene Carpenter (1928–2020), last surviving member of the Astronaut Wives Club

Rene Carpenter (first name rhymes with “seen”) was a television host and columnist who first came to public attention as the wife of Mercury 7 astronaut M. Scott Carpenter.

David Cassidy (1950–2017), starred on “The Partridge Family”

David Cassidy, the singer and actor who rocketed to teen-idol status in the 1970s as the costar of the musical TV sitcom “The Partridge Family,” died Tuesday, Nov. 21, after having been hospitalized several days earlier in Florida, where he lived, according to multiple news sources. He was 67.

Dennis Banks (1937 – 2017), co-founder of the American Indian Movement

Native American activist was a leader of the Wounded Knee Occupation…

John Dunsworth (1946 – 2017), actor starred on "Trailer Park Boys"

Played trailer park supervisor Jim Lahey on the comedy series…

Willie N. Rogers (1915–2016), Tuskegee Airman

Willie N. Rogers, the oldest surviving member of the original Tuskegee Airmen who became legendary for their service in World War II, died Nov. 18, 2016, in St. Petersburg, Florida. He was 101. A longtime resident of St. Petersburg, Rogers died of stroke complications, according to the Tampa Bay Times. The brave military men known as the Tuskegee Airmen became legendary for their service in World War II. The first African-American aviators in the U.S. armed forces, they fought valiantly for their country at a time when segregation still limited their lives and their rights.

Remembering Novelist Tom Clancy

We remember best-selling spy novelist Tom Clancy.

Ann Miller: Top of the Taps

Ann Miller was a multi-talented star – she could sing, she could act, she was funny – but all these skills were eclipsed by her magnificent dancing...

Tiny Tim Tiptoes Through the Tulips

Tiny Tim died 15 years ago today. By then, he was almost a footnote of pop culture history.