Born on this day – Badja Djola:

Badja Djola

Actor

Dancer

April 9, 1948 – January 8, 2005

Credits:

Slipdream (2005); Back to You in the Days (2005); Night at the Golden Eagle (2001); The Lone Gunmen (2001); The Fugitive (2000); The Price of Air (2000); Lost in the Pershing Point Hotel (2000); The Hurricane (1999); Deterrence (1999); Born Free (1998); Chicago Hope (1998); Butter (1998); ER (1998); Brooklyn South (1998); The Players Club (1998); Gunshy (1998); Millennium (1997); First Time Felon (1997); The Last Don (1997); The Brave (1997); NYPD Blue (1997); Rosewood (1997); Nash Bridges (1997); Heaven's Prisoners (1996); The X-Files (1995); Knight Rider 2010 (1994); Roc (1993–1994); Who's the Man? (1993); Marked for Murder (1993); Eddie Presley (1992); The Waterdance (1992); Division Street (1991); Christmas on Division Street (1991); The Last Boy Scout (1991); The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage (1991); A Rage in Harlem (1991); Wiseguy (1990); B.L. Stryker (1990); An Innocent Man (1989); Mississippi Burning (1988); The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988); Spenser: For Hire (1987); The Lightship (1985); Maximum Security (1984); The Lonely Guy (1984); Tales of the Gold Monkey (1982); Night Shift (1982); Penitentiary (1979); The Main Event (1979).

Born on this day – Dan Simmons:

Dan Simmons

Writer

April 4, 1948 – February 21, 2026

Credits:

Books:

A Winter Haunting (2002); Adventures of the Batman (1995); Angels of Darkness (1995); Banished Dreams (1990); Between Time and Terror (1990); Black Hills (2010); Blood Is Not Enough (1989); Bloodsuckers (2010); Carrion Comfort (1989); Children of the Night (1992); Dark Visions (1989); Darker Masques (2002); Darkness (2010); Darwin's Blade (2000); Drood (2009); Endymion (1996); Entropy's Bed at Midnight (1990); Far Horizons (1999); Fires of Eden (1994); Flashback (2011); Flesh Creepers (1990); Flight or Fright (2018); Freak Show (1992); Going After The Rubber Chicken (1991); Hard as Nails (2003); Hard Freeze (2002); Hardcase (2001); High Fantastic (1987); Horrorscape 2 (2005); Hyperion (1989); Ilium (2003); LoveDeath (1993); Masques III (1989); Masques IV (1991); Midnight Graffiti (1992); Muse of Fire (2008); Night Visions 5 (1988); Obsessions (1991); Olympos (2005); Omni Visions Two (1994); Phases of Gravity (1989); Prayers to Broken Stones (1990); Redshift (2001); Rivals of Dracula (1996); Science Fiction: The Best of 2001 (2002); Song of Kali (1985); Songs of the Dying Earth (2009); Southern Blood (1997); Speaking of the Fantastic (2005); Still Dead (1992); Summer of Night (1991); Summer Sketches (1992); The Abominable (2013); The Crook Factory (1999); The Earth Strikes Back (1994); The Fall of Hyperion (1990); The Fifth Heart (2015); The Further Adventures of the Joker (1990); The Guiding Nose of Ulfant Banderoz (2013); The Hollow Man (1992); The Living Dead (2008); The New Space Opera (2007); The Orbit Science Fiction Yearbook 1 (1989); The Rise of Endymion (1997); The Second Omni Book of Science Fiction (1984); The Space Opera Renaissance (2006); The Terror (2007); The Ultimate Dracula (1991); The Vampire Archives (2009); The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror Seventh Annual Collection (1994); The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror Third Annual Collection (1990); The Year's Best Fantasy Second Annual Collection (1989); The Year's Best Science Fiction Eleventh Annual Collection (1993); The Year's Best Science Fiction First Annual Collection (1984); The Year's Best Science Fiction Nineteenth Annual Collection (2002); The Year's Best Science Fiction Thirteenth Annual Collection (1996); This Year's Class Picture (1992); Vampires: The Greatest Stories (1991); Worlds Enough and Time (2002); Year's Best SF 6 (2001).

Television & video game:

Dreams with Sharp Teeth (2008); Monsters (1990); Prisoners of Gravity (1991–1994); Star Control / Video Game (1990); The Terror (2018).

Born on this day – Bud Cort:

Bud Cort

Actor

Writer

Director

March 29, 1948 – February 11, 2026

Credits:

Affections (2016); AFI's 100 Years... 100 Laughs: America's Funniest Movies (2000); Altman on His Own Terms (2000); An Evening at the Improv (1989); And the Band Played On (1993); Arrested Development (2006); Bates Motel (1987); Batman: The Animated Series (1992); Behind the Scenes: 'But I'm a Cheerleader' (2001); Bernice Bobs Her Hair (1976); Bob (1992); Brain Dead (1990); Brave New World (1980); Brewster McCloud (1970); But I'm a Cheerleader (1999); C.C.P.D. (1992); Camp Midnite (1989); Carol Leifer: Gaudy, Bawdy & Blue (1992); Celebrating Laughter: The Life and Films of Colin Higgins (2022); Coyote Ugly (2000); Criminal Minds (2010); Die Laughing (1980); Dogma (1999); Dream Corp LLC (2014); Dream On (1992); Eagleheart (2012); Electric Dreams (1984); Faerie Tale Theatre (1982–1983); Funny or Die Presents... (2010); Gas! -Or- It Became Necessary to Destroy the World in Order to Save It. (1970); Girl in the Cadillac (1995); Going Under (1991); Gun (1997); Hal (2018); Harold and Maude (1971); Heat (1995); Hotels - Geschichte und Geschichten (1989–1990); Hysterical (1982); I Woke Up Early the Day I Died (1998); Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust (2004); Insight (1982); Interview-Director Keith Gordon Discusses 'the Chocolate War' (2007); Invaders from Mars (1986); Iron and Beyond (2002); Isle of Dogs (2018); Jack's Place (1993); Jeff Lynne: Video (1984); Jitters (1997); Justice League Unlimited (2006); Love at Stake (1987); Love Letters (1983); M*A*S*H (1970); Made (2001); Making It in Hollywood (1976); Maria's Lovers (1984); Martini Ranch: Reach (1988); Matthew Gray Gubler's Life Aquatic Intern Journal (2005); Midnight Caller (1989); Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1969); Night of 100 Stars (1982); Night of 100 Stars II (1985); Out of the Dark (1988); Paid in Puke (2023); Pollock (2000); Pumping Iron (1977); Raw Iron: The Making of 'Pumping Iron' (2002); Room 222 (1969); SBS World News (2024); Screen Two (1995); She Dances Alone (1981); Shootout (2007); Siskel & Ebert (2000); Sledge Hammer! (1987); Son of Hitler (1979); South of Heaven, West of Hell (2000); Static Shock (2003); Sunday Night Live (1984); Superman: The Animated Series (1996–1998); Sweet Charity (1969); Sweet Jane (1998); Tales from the Darkside (1985); Tales of the Unexpected (1985); Ted & Venus (1991); Telephone (1986); The Annual American Cinematheque Award Honors Bette Midler (1987); The Big Empty (2003); The Chocolate War (1988); The Doctors (1968); The Governor & J.J. (1969); The Hallucinating Trip (1975); The Hitchhiker (1987); The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004); The Little Prince (2015); The Mask (1996–1997); The Million Dollar Hotel (2000); The Movies (2019); The Number 23 (2007); The One Dollar Diary (2002); The Pink Popcast (2023); The Roseanne Show (2000); The Secret Diary of Sigmund Freud (1984); The Strawberry Statement (1970); The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries (1998); The Traveling Executioner (1970); The Twilight Zone (1988); Theodore Rex (1995); This Is an Adventure (2005); This Is Your Life (1971); Tom & Jerry Kids Show (1992); Ugly Betty (2007); Up the Down Staircase (1967); Why Shoot the Teacher (1977).

Born on this day – Penelope Milford:

Penelope Milford

Actress

March 23, 1948 – October 14, 2025

Credits:

Blood Link (1982); Cold Justice (1991); Coming Home (1978); Endless Love (1981); Heathers (1988); Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, Part 2 (1996); Maidstone (1970); Man on a Swing (1974); Miss Missouri (1990); Night of the Lawyers (1997); Normal Life (1996); Rosie: The Rosemary Clooney Story (1982); Seizure: The Story of Kathy Morris (1980); Take This Job and Shove It (1981); The 51st Annual Academy Awards (1979); The Blue Knight (1976); The Burning Bed (1984); The Golden Seal (1983); The Hitchhiker (1985); The Last Word (1979); The Oldest Living Graduate (1980); The Paul Ryan Show (1977–1992); Unauthorized Biography: Jane Fonda (1988); Valentino (1977).

Born on this day – Cass Warner:

Cass Warner

Director

Producer

Writer

March 8, 1948 – March 14, 2024

Credits:

23rd Annual Los Angeles Music Awards (2013); American Masters (2008); Answering the Call: Ground Zero's Volunteers (2005); Hollywoodism: Jews, Movies and the American Dream (1998); HOPPER: In His Own Words (2012); Mystic Nights and Pirate Fights (1998); Switch (1977); The Brothers Warner (2007); The Dini Petty Show (1989); The Joan Rivers Show (1993).

On this day in movie history - The Man from Texas (1948 movie & play):

The Man from Texas

directed by Leigh Jason,

written by Joseph Fields and Jerome Chodorov,

based on the play and novel Missouri Legend by Elizabeth Beall Ginty,

inspired by the true Jesse James story,

was released in the United States on March 6, 1948.
Music by Earl Robinson.

Cast:

James Craig, Tobias Simms, Lynn Bari, Johnny Johnston, Una Merkel, Wallace Ford, Harry Davenport, Sara Allgood, Victor Cutler, Reed Hadley, Erville Alderson, Stanley Andrews, James Arness, Glen Arthur, Ray Bennett, Lane Bradford, Paul E. Burns, Bert Conway, Clancy Cooper, King Donovan, Eddie Dunn, Jim Farley, Dick Foote, Hope Landin, Lyle Latell, James Logan, Robert Malcolm, Suzanne O'Connor, Lee Roberts, Brick Sullivan, Charles Wagenheim, Guy Wilkerson, Hank Worden.

Recommended reading:

Missouri Legend

A Comedy in Three Acts

Play by E.B. Ginty (1938)

ASIN: B00085V4NE
Published by Random House.
Published 1938.
First Edition.

Description:

Inspired by the true Jesse James story.
Filmed as The Man from Texas (1948), directed by Leigh Jason.

On this day in movie history - The Naked City (1948):

The Naked City

aka Naked City,

directed by Jules Dassin,

written by Albert Maltz and Malvin Wald,

based on a story by Malvin Wald,

was released in the United States on March 4, 1948.

Narrated by Mark Hellinger.

Music by Miklós Rózsa and Frank Skinner.

There are eight million stories in the naked city. This has been one of them.

– Narrator.

Cast:

Barry Fitzgerald, Howard Duff, Dorothy Hart, Don Taylor, Frank Conroy, Ted de Corsia, House Jameson, Anne Sargent, Adelaide Klein, Grover Burgess, Tom Pedi, Enid Markey, Walter Burke, Virginia Mullen, Mark Hellinger.

On this day in movie history - Madonna of the Desert (1948):

Madonna of the Desert

directed by George Blair,

written by Albert DeMond,

based on a story by Frank Wisbar,

was released in the United States on February 23, 1948.
Music by Mort Glickman.

Cast:

Lynne Roberts, Don Barry, Don Castle, Sheldon Leonard, Paul Hurst, Roy Barcroft, Paul E. Burns, Betty Blythe, Grazia Narciso, Martin Garralaga, Frank Yaconelli, Maria Genardi, Renee Donatt, Vernon Cansino.

Born on this day – John Ashton:

John Ashton

Actor

February 22, 1948 – September 26, 2024

Credits:

A Death in California (1985); All Happy Families (2023); American Christmas (2019); An Eye for an Eye (1973); Avalanche (1999); Back to Wonderful: A Conversation with Howard Deutch (2022); Barnaby Jones (1976); Beverly Hills Cop (1984); Beverly Hills Cop II (1987); Beverly Hills Cop II: The Phenomenon Continues (2002); Beverly Hills Cop: A Glimpse Into the Casting Process (2002); Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024); Beverly Hills Cop: The Phenomenon Begins (2002); Bill's Gun Shop (2001); Body & Soul (2002); Borderline (1980); Brats (2024); Breaking Away (1979–1981); Brookside (1987–1997); Brothers (1986); Capturing Authenticity: Casting 'Gone Baby Gone' (2008); Carter Country (1978); Cat Murkil and the Silks (1976); Code R (1977); Columbo (1974); Curly Sue (1991); Dallas (1978–1979); Death in Texas (2020); Dirty Work (1992); EastEnders (1995); Elvis and the Beauty Queen (1981); Emergency! (1974); Fairly Legal (2011); Family (2003); Fantasy Island (1999); Fast Money (1996); For Which He Stands (1996); Glenn Frey: The Heat Is On (1984); Going to California (2001); Gone Baby Gone (2007); Hardball (1989–1990); Hardcastle and McCormick (1986); Hey Marvin!: An Interview with Actor John Ashton (2016); Hidden Assassin (1995); Honky Tonk Freeway (1981); Hot Bath an' a Stiff Drink 2 (2024); Hot Bath, Stiff Drink, an' a Close Shave (2024); I Know My First Name Is Steven (1989); I Want to Go Home (1989); In the Living Years (1994); Instinct (1999); JAG (1996 / 1998); Jane Doe: Til Death Do Us Part (2005); Judging Amy (2001); King Kong Lives (1986); King of the Hill (1998); Kojak (1974); Last Resort (1986); Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2009); Lawman Without a Gun (1978); Little Big League (1994); Little Girls in Pretty Boxes (1997); Lonesome Soldier (2023); Love, Lies and Murder (1991); M*A*S*H (1977); Making a Deal with the Devil (2019); Meet the Cast of Some Kind of Wonderful (2006); Meet the Deedles (1998); Middle Men (2009); Midnight Run (1988); Minty Comedic Arts (2023); Money Hunt: The Mystery of the Missing Link (1984); My Father's House (1975); My Little Baby (2019); My Uncle Sidney (1998); Oh, God! (1977); Once Upon a River (2019); Phyllis (1976); Poddywood (2021–2022); Police Squad! (1982); Police Squad: Gag Reel (2006); Police Story (1976); Police Woman (1977); Reign of the Gargoyles (2007); Saturday's (1991); She's Having a Baby (1988); So Evil, My Sister (1974); Some Kind of Wonderful (1987); Starsky and Hutch (1977–1978); Sweet Deadly Dreams (2006); The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984); The A-Team (1985); The Daniel Baldwin Show (2023); The Day Lincoln Was Shot (1998); The Deliberate Stranger (1986); The Finder (2012); The Joke Thief (2018); The Last Big Save (2019); The Making of 'Beverly Hills Cop II' (1987); The Making of 'Midnight Run' (1987); The Making of Some Kind of Wonderful (2006); The Music of Beverly Hills Cop (2002); The Neighborhood (2017); The Rhinemann Exchange (1977); The Tommyknockers (1993); The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (2002); The Tracey Ullman Show (1990); The Twilight Zone / Segment: Chameleon (1985); The Wilds of Ten Thousand Islands (1978); Today (2024); Trapped in Paradise (1994); Uncle John (2015); Wonder Woman (1977).

Born on this day – Susan Beth Pfeffer:

Susan Beth Pfeffer

Writer

February 17, 1948 – June 23, 2025

Credits:

Books:

A Gift for Amy (1999); A Gift for Beth (1999); A Gift for Jo (1999); A Gift for Meg (1999); A Matter of Principle (1982); About David (1980); After (2012); Amy Makes a Friend (1998); Amy's Story (1997); April Upstairs (1990); Awful Evelina (1979); Beth Makes a Friends (1998); Beth's Story (1997); Better Than All Right (1972); Birthday Wishes (1999); Blood Wounds (2011); Christmas Dreams (1998); Claire At Sixteen (1989); Courage Dana (1983); Darcy Downstairs (1990); Dear Dad, Love Laurie (1989); Devil's Den (1998); Evvie At Sixteen (1988); Family of Strangers (1992); Fantasy Summer (1984); Future Forward (1989); Getting Even (1986); Ghostly Tales (2000); Hard Times High (1986); Head of the Class (1989); Jo Makes a Friend (1998); Jo's Story (1997); Just Between Us (1980); Just Morgan (1970); Justice for Emily (1997); Kid Power (1977); Kid Power Strikes Back (1984); Life as We Knew It (2006); Love Scenes (1986); Make Believe (1993); Marly the Kid (1975); Meg At Sixteen (1990); Meg Makes a Friend (1998); Meg's Story (1997); Most Precious Blood (1991); Nobody's Daughter (1995); On the Move (1985); Paper Dolls (1984); Places I Never Meant to Be (1999); Prime Time (1985); Quilt Masterpieces (1998); Rainbows and Fireworks (1973); Revenge of the Aztecs (2001); Rewind to Yesterday (1988); Sara Kate Saves the World (1995); Sara Kate, Superkid (1994); Starring Peter and Leigh (1979); Starting With Melodie (1982); Sybil At Sixteen (1989); Take Two And...rolling! (1988); The Beauty Queen (1974); The Dead and the Gone (2008); The Friendship Pact (1986); The Pizza Puzzle (1996); The Riddle Streak (1993); The Ring of Truth (1993); The Shade of the Moon (2013); The Trouble with Wishes (1996); The Year Without Michael (1987); Thea At Sixteen (1988); This World We Live In (2010); Truth or Dare (1984); Turning Thirteen (1988); Twice Taken (1994); Twin Surprises (1991); Twin Troubles (1992); Wanting It All (1985); What Do You Do When Your Mouth Won't Open? (1981); Whatever Words You Want to Hear (1974); Who Were They Really? (1999); You can write children's books in your spare time (1993).

Born on this day – Richard M. Cohen:

Richard M. Cohen

Writer

Television producer

February 14, 1948 – December 24, 2024

Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 1973.

Credits:

Books:

Blindsided: Lifting a Life Above Illness: A Reluctant Memoir (2004); I Want to Kill the Dog (2012); Strong At The Broken Places (2008).

On this day in movie history - Call Northside 777 (1948):

Call Northside 777

directed by Henry Hathaway,

written by Jerome Cady, Jay Dratler, Leonard Hoffman and Quentin Reynolds,

was released in the United States on February 13, 1948.

Based on the true 1932 Joseph Majczek case,

and articles written by James P. McGuire and Jack McPhaul,

published in the Chicago Daily Times in 1944.

Narrated by Truman Bradley.

Music by Alfred Newman.

Cast:

James Stewart, Richard Conte, Lee J. Cobb, Helen Walker, Betty Garde, Kasia Orzazewski, Joanne De Bergh, Howard Smith, Moroni Olsen, John McIntire, Paul Harvey, Robert Adler, Richard Bishop, Larry J. Blake, John Bleifer, Truman Bradley, Dollie Caillet, Michael Chapin, George Cisar, Jane Crowley, Jimmy Dime, Abe Dinovitch, Rex Downing, Eddie Dunn, Lew Eckles, Ben Erway, Joseph Forte, Helen Foster, Stanley Gordon, Walter Greaza, Jonathan Hale, Buck Harrington, Percy Helton, Samuel S. Hinds, Perry Ivins, Robert Karnes, Leonarde Keeler, Cy Kendall, J.M. Kerrigan, Carl Kroenke, Paul Kruger, Henry Kulky, Charles Lane, Philip Lord, Jack Mannick, E.G. Marshall, Norman McKay, George Melford, Charles Miller, Edward Peil Jr., George Pembroke, Wanda Perry, Arthur Peterson, Joe Ploski, William Post Jr., Addison Richards, Thelma Ritter, Richard Rober, Dick Ryan, Peter Seal, Lester Sharpe, George Spaulding, Ray Spiker, Lionel Stander, Ann Staunton, Freddie Steele, George Turner, George Tyne, Bill Vendetta, Otto Waldis, Duke Watson, Robert B. Williams.