Former soccer player Landon Donovan and actress Patricia Heaton are celebrating their birthdays today, March 4.

Landon Donovan, 33

Former professional soccer player Landon Donovan turns 33 today. In 1999, Donovan signed a six-year contract for German club Bayer Leverkusen, however, he spent the majority of his time in the United States, training for their national team. He later played with the San Jose Earthquakes, leading them to the MLS Cup championships in 2001 and 2003 and was named U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year in 2003.

Donovan became a member of the inaugural class of the U.S. Soccer residency program in Bradenton, Florida and played with the United States U17 squad, finishing fourth in the 1999 FIFA U-17 World Championship. He later joined the Los Angeles Galaxy where he assisted their MLS cup win in his first year.

Throughout his career, Donovan won a record six MLS Cups and is the league's all-time top scorer. He took part in the U.S. team that reached the quarter-finals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup where he received the Best Young Player Award. On January 15, 2015, the Major League Soccer announced that the MVP title will now be named the Landon Donovan MVP Award.


image courtesy of INFphoto.com

Patricia Heaton, 57

Actress and producer Patricia Heaton turns 57 today. Heaton started her career on Broadway, appearing in Don't Get God Started in 1987. She made her television debut with a minor role in the ABC drama thirtysomething. She went on to appear in Alien Nation, Matlock, Party of Five and The King of Queens.

Heaton also transitioned into film, appearing in Memoirs of an Invisible Man, Beethoven, The New Age and Space Jam.

In 1996, she earned the recurring role of Debra Barone on the CBS comedy series Everybody Loves Raymond. She earned Emmy nominations each year for the show's last seven seasons for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, winning the twice in 2000 and 2001. Her role also earned her a Screen Actors Guild award.

Heaton produced the 2005 documentary The Bituminous Coal Queens of Pennsylvania and also produced the 2006 drama Amazing Grace. She most recently starred in the 2014 comedy film Moms' Night Out.

Heaton received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in May 2012. She is currently married to British actor David Hunt and they have four sons, Samuel David, John Basil, Joseph Charles and Daniel Patrick.


image courtesy of Carlos Diaz/INFphoto.com