Actor Morris Chestnut and ice dancer Meryl Davis are celebrating their birthdays today, January 1.

Morris Chestnut, 46


image courtesy of Jennifer Graylock/INFphoto.com

Film and television actor Morris Chestnut turns 46 today. Chestnut's first acting role was as Jadon in Freddy's Nightmares: A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Series, which aired in February 1990. His first feature film role was as Ricky Baker in Boyz n the Hood in 1991. His career continued to rise steadily with co-starring roles in films such as Under Siege 2: Dark Territory and G.I. Jane.

In 1998, he won the annual Madden Bowl video game competition. In 1999, Chestnut starred in The Best Man alongside Taye Diggs and Nia Long. The film earned positive reviews and did well at the box office. For his performance, Chestnut earned an NAACP Image Award nomination. Like his character in The Best Man, Chestnut again played a football player in The Game Plan in 2007. In 2001, he starred in The Brothers and in 2004, he appeared as a firefighter in Ladder 49.

He has worked with Steven Seagal three times in Under Siege 2: Dark Territory, Half Past Dead and Prince of Pistols.

Chestnut married Pam Byse in 1995 and they have two children.

Meryl Davis, 28


image courtesy of INFphoto.com

Ice dancer Meryl Davis turns 28 today. With partner Charlie White, Davis is the 2014 Olympic Champion, a two-time World champion, the 2010 Olympic silver medalist, two-time World silver medalist, five-time Grand Prix Final champion, three-time Four Continents champion and six-time U.S. national champion. At the 2014 Winter Olympics, they also won a bronze medal in the team event.

Davis and White teamed up in 1997 and they are currently the longest lasting dance team in the United States. They are the first American ice dancers to win the World title, as well as the first Americans to win the Olympic ice dancing gold medal. Davis and White are the current world record holders for the short dance, free dance, and total combined score.

In 2014, Davis won the eighteenth season of Dancing with the Stars with partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Davis and Chmerkovskiy also finished with six perfect 30s and was also Chmerkovskiy's first win after thirteen previous seasons on the show and four previous appearances in the finals.