Born January 1933

Ron Harper (1933–2024), Planet of the Apes TV show star 

Ron Harper was an actor who starred in such TV shows as “Land of the Lost,” “Planet of the Apes,” and “Garrison’s Gorillas.” 

Charles Osgood (1933–2024), longtime CBS News Sunday Morning host 

Charles Osgood was the host of “CBS News Sunday Morning” from 1994 to 2016 and the host of radio’s “The Osgood File” for close to 50 years.

Michael Pertschuk (1933–2022), FTC chief behind seatbelt laws & cigarette labels

Michael Pertschuk was the chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) who drove legislation on seatbelt use and cigarette warning labels.

Lennie Rosenbluth (1933–2022), University of North Carolina basketball legend 

Lennie Rosenbluth was a legendary University of North Carolina basketball player who led the team to their first NCAA championship with a win over Kansas and Wilt Chamberlain.  

Max Julien (1933–2022), star of blaxploitation classic “The Mack”

Max Julien was an actor and screenwriter best known for starring in the 1973 blaxploitation film “The Mack.”

James Hormel (1933–2021), first openly gay U.S. ambassador

James Hormel was a philanthropist and the heir to the Hormel Food fortune who became the first openly gay ambassador representing the U.S.

Joseph Sonnabend (1933–2021), pioneering AIDS doctor

Joseph Sonnabend was a physician who was one of the first to notice symptoms in his patients that would later be identified as HIV/AIDS.

Ernest Gaines (1933–2019), celebrated novelist

Ernest Gaines  was the celebrated author of “A Lesson Before Dying” and “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman.” Born on a plantation in Louisiana, he made his way to California as a teenager because the local high school did not allow African American students. After serving in the Army, he earned a place in Stanford University’s creative writing program. His novels took an honest poetic look at Black struggles in America. He gained some success with 1971’s “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman” but even more when his 1993 novel “A Lesson Before Dying” was featured in Oprah Winfrey’s book club. Both novels were adapted into movies.  

Linda Porter (1933–2019), character actress known for “Superstore” and “Twin Peaks”

Linda Porter was a character actress best known for roles in “Superstore” and “Twin Peaks.”

Bob Beattie (1933–2018), helped launch the Skiing World Cup

Ski racing pioneer was a popular television commentator…

J.C. Caroline (1933 – 2017), College Football Hall of Fame running back

J.C. Caroline, former Chicago Bears defensive back and stand-out University of Illinois running back, has died, according to The Associated Press. He was 84.

Shari Lewis and Lamb Chop

When puppeteer Shari Lewis died Aug. 2, 1998, the world lost a gentle soul who knew how to entertain children like few others.