Born on this day – River Phoenix:

River Phoenix

Actor

Musician

August 23, 1970 – October 31, 1993

Credits:

Stand by Me: Deleted and Alternate Scenes (2019); Dark Blood (2012); The Thing Called Love (1993); Silent Tongue (1993); Sneakers (1992); Red Hot Chili Peppers: Breaking the Girl (1992); Dogfight (1991); My Own Private Idaho (1991); I Love You to Death (1990); Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989); Running on Empty (1988); Little Nikita (1988); A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon (1988); Ben E. King: Stand by Me (1986); The Mosquito Coast (1986); Circle of Violence: A Family Drama (1986); Stand by Me (1986); Family Ties (1985); Explorers (1985); Surviving (1985); Robert Kennedy and His Times (1985); Hotel (1984); It's Your Move (1984); ABC Afterschool Specials (1984); Celebrity (1984); Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1982–1983).

Born on this day – Malcolm-Jamal Warner:

Malcolm-Jamal Warner

Actor

Writer

Producer

Musician

August 18, 1970 – July 20, 2025

Credits:

Book:

Theo and Me: Growing up Okay (1988).

Movies and television:

14th Annual Inner City Destiny Awards (2006); 15 Minutes (2001); 18th Annual Trumpet Awards (2010); 19th Annual NAACP Image Awards (1987); 1st Annual Black Music Honors (2016); 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards (2011); 2011 Soul Train Awards (2011); 2015 Soul Train Awards (2015); 20th NAACP Image Awards (1988); 25th NAACP Image Awards (1993); 32nd NAACP Image Awards (2001); 3rd Annual Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards (1997); 48 Hours 'til Monday (2015); 6th Annual Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards (2000); 9-1-1 (2024); A Different World (1988–1989); A Fare to Remember (1999); ABC Afterschool Specials (1986–1994); Access Daily (2015–2017); Accused (2023); Adventures from the Book of Virtues (1997); After Hours (1990); Alert: Missing Persons Unit (2025); All That (1995–2005); All That 10th Anniversary Reunion Special (2005); American Crime Story (2016); American Horror Story (2014–2015); An Evening at the Improv (1990); Andy Williams and the NBC Kids Search for Santa (1985); Apollo Theatre Hall of Fame (1994); As Written (2012); Bad Music Video Theatre (2021); Battle of the Network Stars XIX (1988); Be Inspired: The Life of Heavy D (2012); BET Awards 2011 (2011); Big Bird's Birthday or Let Me Eat Cake (1991); Biography (2001); Body Language (1985); Call to Glory (1984); Carol & The End of the World (2023); CBS Cares (2004); CBS Schoolbreak Special (1994); CBS Storybreak (1984); Celebrity Poker Showdown (2005); Chadtronic (2018); Child Stars: Then and Now (2003); Children's Miracle Network Telethon (1990); Community (2011–2012); Contradictions of the Heart (2009); DCE presents Black Music Month (2022); Def Comedy Jam (1992); Def Poetry (2002); Detroiters (2017); Dexter (2006); Directors on Directing 2: The Story of the Storytellers (2008); Disneyland's Summer Vacation Party (1986); Drop Zone (1994); E! True Hollywood Story (2001); Ebony/Jet Showcase (1986–1992); Ennis' Gift (2000); Entertainment Tonight (1986–2025); Essence Ninth Annual Black Women in Hollywood (2016); Extra (2015); Fame (1983); Fast Copy (1985); Find Your Future Reality (2018); Five Star: (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons (1994); Fool's Gold (2008); For Our Children: The Concert (1993); Found Footage Festival Volume 6: Live in Chicago (2012); Friends in Therapy (2013); Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce (2017–2018); GMA3: What You Need to Know (2018); Grown-ish (2024); Gylne tider (2010); Gylne Tider: Let It Be (2010); Happy Hour (1999); Hard: Life of a Bondservant (2012); Hawthorne (2009); Here and Now (1992–2024); Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay (2022); History of the Sitcom (2021); Hollywood Squares (1998–1999); Home Alone: A Kid's Guide to Playing It Safe When on Your Own (1990); House of Lies (2016); I Was a Network Star (2006); Inside Look: The People v. O.J. Simpson - American Crime Story (2016); Inside TV Land (2002); Invisible Blackness with Adrian Younge (2021); It's Hot in Here: UPN Fall Preview (1996); Jemele Hill Is Unbothered (2023); Jeremiah (2002–2004); John & Leeza from Hollywood (1993); Kenan & Kel (1996); Key and Peele (2013–2014); Kidds for Kids in Africa: Love's Gonna Find A Way (1985); King of the Underground (2011); Kwamé: The Man We All Know and Love (1989); La tele de tu vida (2007); Larry King Now (2017); Last Call with Carson Daly (2016); Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1995); Later with Bob Costas (1988); Legend of the Candy Cane (2001); Lethal Weapon (2017); Life After (2010); Listen Up (2004–2005); Live with Kelly and Mark (1989–2023); Lyric Cafe (2002–2003); Lyric Cafe (2008); Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (1985); Major Crimes (2013–2016); Making History in Hollywood (2021); Malcolm & Eddie (1996–2000); Matlock (1987); Matt Houston (1982); Megachurch Murder (2015); Men of Alaye: The Hottest Black Men in America (1998); Mentoring Kings (2018); Moloney (1997); Mother's Day (1989); Motown Returns to the Apollo (1985); MTV EMA Belfast 2011 (2011); Muted (2014); My Nappy Roots: A Journey Through Black Hair-itage (2010); NBA All-Star Stay in School Jam (1992); NBC 60th Anniversary Celebration (1986); NBC 75th Anniversary Special (2002); New Edition: N.E. Heart Break (1989); Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards 2000 (2000); Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards '95 (1995); Night of 100 Stars II (1985); Nightlife (1986); Not (Blank) Enough (2021); Not All Hood (NAH) (2024–2025); Olive Forever (2018); One on One with John Tesh (1992); One on One with Magic Johnson (1994); One to Grow On (1983–1989); Pioneers of Television (2014); Puppy Dog Pals (2020); Rachael Ray (2016–2018); Reed Between the Lines (2011–2015); Reflections: A Story of Redemption (2004); Restaurant (1998); Retrosexual: The 80's (2004); Saturday Morning Videos (1990–1992); Saturday Night Live (1986); Saturday Night Live: The Best of Phil Hartman (1998); Second City This Week (2012); Sesame Street (1985–1988); Sesame Street Jam: A Musical Celebration / Segment: Monster in the Mirror (1993); Sesame Street: Monster in the Mirror (1991); Sherri (2009–2025); Shot (2017); Show Off! How to Be Cool at Parties (1986); Showtime at the Apollo (1988–1991); Sliders (1999); Sneaky Pete (2017–2019); Sons of Anarchy (2014); Sons of Anarchy: Season 7 - Guests of Anarchy (2015); Sound, Verses, Fury (2007); Special Agent Oso (2010); Static Shock (2002); Stevie Wonder with Friends: Celebrating a Message of Peace (2013); Stripperella (2004); Suits (2016–2017); Super Bloopers and Practical Jokes (1985–1988); Tavis Smiley (2005); Teen Vid I (1991); Ten Days in the Valley (2017); The 11th Annual People's Choice Awards (1985); The 12th Annual Soul Train Music Awards (1998); The 14th Annual American Black Achievement Awards (1993); The 1999 Source Hip-Hop Music Awards (1999); The 31st Annual People's Choice Awards (2005); The 37th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1985); The 38th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1986); The 42nd Annual Golden Globe Awards (1985); The 5th Annual American Comedy Awards (1991); The 5th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards (1990); The '80s: The Decade That Made Us (2013); The 8th Annual Black Achievement Awards (1987); The 9th Annual TV Land Awards (2011); The Arsenio Hall Show (1989–2014); The Boris & Nicole Show (2015); The Chicken Squad (2021); The Cleaner (2008); The Cosby Outtakes Show (1990); The Cosby Show (1984–1992); The Cosby Show: 25th Anniversary Special (2009); The Cosby Show: A Look Back (2002); The Drop (2004); The Earth Day Special (1990); The Father Clements Story (1987); The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990–1992); The Greatest (2005); The Insider (2016); The Interviews: An Oral History of Television (2013); The Irrational (2023); The Last Laugh: Memories of the Cosby Show (1992); The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn (2004); The List (2007); The Magic School Bus (1994–1997); The Meredith Vieira Show (2016); The Michael J. Fox Show (2014); The Mo'Nique Show (2010); The NBC All Star Hour (1985); The New Hollywood Squares (1987); The Oprah Winfrey Show (2008); The Real (2016); The Real Malcolm X (1992); The Real Story of Itsy Bitsy Spider (1991); The Resident (2018–2023); The Resident Rulebreakers (2020); The Teen Files (1999); The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1988); The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992); The Tuskegee Airmen (1995); The View (2005–2015); The Wendy Williams Show (2009–2018); The Wonder Years (2023); The Word (1994); There's Hope (2007); This Old Man (1990); Time Out: The Truth About HIV, AIDS, and You (1992); Today (1985–2024); Touched by an Angel (1995); Tour of Duty (1989); True Blue (2010); TV Guide: 40th Anniversary Special (1993); TV Guide's 50 Best Shows of All Time: A 50th Anniversary Celebration (2002); TV Land's Top Ten (2005); TV's All-Time Funniest: A Paley Center for Media Special (2008); Tyson (1995); Under the Boardwalk: The Monopoly Story (2010); Verses & Flow (2014); VH-1 Where Are They Now? (2000); Walt Disney World Celebrity Circus (1987); Wannabe (2016); White Famous (2017); Whodini: Funky Beat (1986); Word Warriors III (2016); You Can't Hear Me (2017); Your Favorite Commercials (1994).

On this day in movie history - Darker Than Amber (1970):

Darker Than Amber

directed by Robert Clouse,

written by Ed Waters,

based on the novel by John D. MacDonald,

was released in the United States on August 12, 1970.

Music by John Carl Parker.

Cast:

Rod Taylor, Theodore Bikel, Suzy Kendall, Ahna Capri, William Smith, Janet MacLachlan, Robert Phillips, Jane Russell, James Booth, Oswaldo Calvo, Sherry Faber, Marcia Knight, James H. Frysinger, Harry A. Wood, Jack Nagle, Judy Wallace, Michael DeBeausset, Jeff Gillen, Chris Robinson, Warren Bauer, Wayne Bauer, Don Schoff, Ted Swanson.

Recommended reading - The Friends of Eddie Coyle, by George V. Higgins (1970):

The Friends of Eddie Coyle

By George V. Higgins.

Filmed as The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973), directed by Peter Yates.

Introduction by Dennis Lehane.

Published by Picador.

Pubished 1970.

ISBN-10: 9780312429690

ISBN-13: 9780312429690

ASIN: 031242969X

Description:

George V. Higgins's seminal crime novel is a down-and-dirty tale of thieves, mobsters, and cops on the mean streets of Boston. When small-time gunrunner Eddie Coyle is convicted on a felony, he's looking at three years in the pen – that is, unless he sells out one of his big-fish clients to the DA. But which of the many hoods, gunmen, and executioners whom he calls his friends should he send up the river? Told almost entirely in crackling dialogue by a vivid cast of lowlifes and detectives, The Friends of Eddie Coyle is one of the greatest crime novels ever written.

On this day in movie history - Catch-22 (1970):

Catch-22

directed by Mike Nichols,

written by Buck Henry,

based on the novel by Joseph Heller,

was released in the United States on June 24, 1970.
Music by Richard Strauss.

Cast:

Alan Arkin, Martin Balsam, Richard Benjamin, Art Garfunkel, Jack Gilford, Buck Henry, Bob Newhart, Anthony Perkins, Paula Prentiss, Martin Sheen, Jon Voight, Orson Welles, Bob Balaban, Susanne Benton, Norman Fell, Charles Grodin, Austin Pendleton, Peter Bonerz, Jon Korkes, John Brent, Collin Wilcox Paxton, Philip Roth, Bruce Kirby, Jack Riley, Felice Orlandi, Marcel Dalio, Evi Maltagliati, Elizabeth Wilson, Richard Libertini, Liam Dunn, Olimpia Carlisi, Wendy D'Olive, Gina Rovere, Fernanda Vitobello, Seth Allen, Steve 'Bunker' de France.

On this day in movie history - Kelly’s Heroes (1970):

Kelly’s Heroes

directed by Brian G. Hutton,

written by Troy Kennedy Martin,

was released in the United States on June 23, 1970.
Music by Lalo Schifrin.

Cast:

Clint Eastwood, Telly Savalas, Don Rickles, Carroll O'Connor, Donald Sutherland, Gavin MacLeod, Hal Buckley, Stuart Margolin, Jeff Morris, Richard Davalos, Perry Lopez, Tom Troupe, Harry Dean Stanton, Dick Balduzzi, Gene Collins, Len Lesser, David Hurst, Fred Pearlman, Michael Clark, George Fargo, Dee Pollock, George Savalas, John G. Heller, Shepherd Sanders, Karl-Otto Alberty, Ross Elliott, Phil Adams, Hugo De Vernier, Frank J. Garlotta, Harry Goines, David Gross, Sandy McPeak, James McHale, Robert MacNamara, Read Morgan, Tom Signorelli, Vincent Maracecchi, Paul Picerni, Zvonko Jovcic, John Landis, Joe Mantell, Lee Miller, Yves Montand, Tony Wheeler, Jerry Whittington.

Recommended reading - The Anderson Tapes, by Lawrence Sanders (1970):

The Anderson Tapes

By Lawrence Sanders.

Filmed as The Anderson Tapes (1971), directed by Sidney Lumet.

Published by DELL PUBL CO.

First published 1970.

ISBN-10: 0440102170

ISBN-13: 9780440102175

Description:

With clockwork precision, Lawrence Sanders outlines the inspiration, planning and execution of an ambitious robbery of an apartment building on New York's Upper East Side in The Anderson Tapes, the best-selling thriller that established him as one of the most popular suspense writers of his generation. The premise is clever – the entire story is told in surveillance tape transcripts and reports from law enforcement agencies, each of which seems to be observing some aspect of the situation in which the robbery takes place.

John "Duke" Anderson was recently paroled from Sing Sing, after serving time on a charge of breaking and entering. A rich woman picks him up one evening and takes him back to her apartment, in a small but elegant building on the Upper East Side. Anderson is intrigued by the situation in the building, seeing it as a possible target for a large-scale robbery. He needs backing, though, and he gets it through his contacts with the underworld. What Anderson does not know is that much of what he is already doing is being captured as evidence through electronic surveillance. The catch is that the different entities doing the surveillance are not communicating with each other. The evidence is assembled and the puzzle solved, after the robbery takes place and ends violently, by NYPD Capt. Edward X. Delaney.

The Anderson Tapes marks the first appearance in a Sanders novel of Delaney, a character who will be central to the author's Deadly Sin series of thrillers. Sanders brilliantly unfolds the story in short, fact-filled chapters constructed as police reports and tape transcripts, some of which are tantalizingly garbled. The Anderson Tapes won for Sanders the Mystery Writers of America's Edgar as the Best First Mystery Novel of 1970.

Born on this day – Nicky Katt:

Nicky Katt

Actor

Producer

May 11, 1970 – April 12, 2025

Credits:

21 Years: Richard Linklater (2014); A Time to Kill (1996); American Yakuza (1993); Astoria (1998); Batman & Robin (1997); Behind the Candelabra (2013); Boiler Room (2000); Boston Public (2000–2002); Casual (2018); CBS Schoolbreak Special (1984); CHiPs (1981); Code Red (1982); Dazed and Confused (1993); Dear John (1989–1990); Death Proof (2007); Delivered (1998); Double Rush (1995); Fan des années 80 (2012); Fantasy Island (1980); Father Murphy (1981); Found Footage Festival Volume 4: Live in Tucson (2009); Friends (1996); Friends: The One Before the Last One - Ten Years of Friends (2004); Full Frontal (2002); Goldie and Kids: Listen to Us (1982); Great Directors (2009); Gremlins (1984); Grindhouse / Segments: Planet Terror; Death Proof (2007); Harold (2008); Herbie, the Love Bug (1982); I Love Your Work (2003); Insomnia (2002); Johns (1996); Kindred: The Embraced (1996); King of the Hill (2003–2004); Knight Rider 2010 (1994); Law & Order (2007); Lifestories (1990); Love & War (1992); Love Monkey (2006); Martians Go Home (1989); Monk (2006); Mutiny (1999); Once Upon a River (2019); One True Thing (1998); Phantoms (1998); Planet Terror (2007); Quincy, M.E. (1983); Richard Linklater: Dream Is Destiny (2016); Riding the Bullet (2004); Rules of Engagement (2000); Say You'll Be Mine (1999); School of Rock (2003); Scotch and Milk (1998); Secondhand Lions (2003); Secondhand Lions: Deleted/Alternate Scenes (2004); Sin City (2005); Sister Act (1992); Skins (1994); Snow Angels (2007); Speakeasy (2002); Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords (2004); Strange Days (1995); SubUrbia (1996); The Babysitter (1995); The Brave One (2007); The 'Burbs (1989); The Cure (1995); The Dark Knight (2008); The Doom Generation (1995); The Facts of Life (1988); The Get Along Gang (1984); The Guardian (2003); The Limey (1999); The Sitter (2011); The Way of the Gun (2000); Trapper John, M.D. (1982); Uncle Buck (1990); Underground Aces (1981); V (1984); Voyagers! (1982); Waking Life (2001); World Trade Center (2006).

On this day in movie history – M*A*S*H (1970):

M*A*S*H

directed by Robert Altman,

written by Ring Lardner Jr.,

based on the novel MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors by Richard Hooker,

was released in the United States on March 18, 1970.

Music by Johnny Mandel.

Cast:

Donald Sutherland, Elliott Gould, Tom Skerritt, Sally Kellerman, Robert Duvall, Roger Bowen, Rene Auberjonois, David Arkin, Jo Ann Pflug, Gary Burghoff, Fred Williamson, Michael Murphy, Indus Arthur, Ken Prymus, Bobby Troup, Kim Atwood, Timothy Brown, John Schuck, Dawne Damon, Carl Gottlieb, Tamara Wilcox-Smith, G. Wood, Bud Cort, Danny Goldman, Corey Fischer.