Celebrity Birthdays, January 26
Happy birthday Ellen DeGeneres and Wayne Gretzky!
Ellen DeGeneres, 54
If you’re funny bone is itching for some comedy in the daytime, you’re best bet is to watch The Ellen DeGeneres Show. For nine seasons, the native Louisianan has made millions laugh, cry and dance around. And while she’s become a household name with her hit talk show, DeGeneres first made headlines as Ellen Morgan on the ‘90s show, Ellen, where she revealed that she was gay in an April 1997 episode. The episode, titled “The Puppy Episode,” drew in huge ratings, but Ellen wasn’t able to consistently draw in similar numbers and the show was canceled later that year. However, since her sitcom days, DeGeneres has been able to expand her repertoire with a multitude of TV/film roles, including American Idol season nine judge and So You Think You Can Dance guest judge/finale performer, Dory on Finding Nemo, and 2001 Emmy Awards/2007 Academy Awards host. She’s also been able to maintain a healthy relationship with wife Portia de Rossi.
Wayne Gretzky, 51
Wayne Gretzky may not be as trendy as Kobe Bryant or Peyton Manning, but don’t say that in front of hockey fans. Nicknamed the ”Great One”, Gretzky’s many athletic accomplishments include holding the records for all-time leading scorer and all-time point-getter. When he retired in 1998, the National Hockey League retired his number, 99, to ensure that no one else would ever bear those numbers on a jersey in the league again. Many credit Gretzky for popularizing the sport and bringing in more fans. And his contributions can still be seen today. Not only is his name the title of a successful restaurant in Toronto, his kids sports camp, the Wayne Gretzky Fantasy Camp, has attracted season after season of aspiring athletes, and his Wayne Gretzky Foundation has raised thousands to help disadvantaged children participate in the sport. However, not all is championship wins and charity for Gretzky. He recently made headlines for shutting down his daughter, Paulina’s, Twitter account after she posted more than few racy photos of herself on the social networking site.