(Fox News/Variety) – Character actor Roger Perry died Thursday at his home in Indian Wells. Calif., after a battle with prostrate cancer.
Perry compiled dozens of feature, television, and stage credits during a long career that began when he was discovered by Lucille Ball, who put the young actor under contract to Desilu Studios. He co-starred with Pat O’Brien in the ABC series “Harrigan and Son,” and co-starred with Chuck Connors and Ben Gazzara in the 90-minute drama “Arrest & Trial.”
Perry was a guest star on the “Star Trek” TV series in a memorable first-season episode in 1967, “Tomorrow Is Yesterday,” playing Captain John Christopher (below).
American singer-actor Rick Springfield performs before a large crowd at the Live Aid famine relief concert at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia on this day in 1985.
Live Aid concert crowds at Wembley Stadium in London.
Jean-Paul Marat, a famous French revolutionary and member of the Club des Cordeliers, was assassinated by the Girondin sympathizer Charlotte Corday on this day in 1793.
Jean-Paul Marat (May 24, 1743 – July 13, 1793)
In New York, Civil War draft riots erupted on this day in 1863.
It was on this in 1977 when a power blackout hit the Big Apple.
Actor Harrison Ford is 76 years old today.
Iconic actor Harrison Ford’s memorable characters include Han Solo from the original StarWars trilogy from 1977, Indiana Jones trilogy beginning in 1981, and Rick Deckard from the 1982 sci-fi classic Blade Runner. He earned Golden Globe Award nominations for his roles in Witness(1985), The Mosquito Coast (1986), The Fugitive (1993) and Sabrina (1995). He was ranked #1 on Empire’s 1997 list of the Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time.
Roman Emperor Gaius Julius Caesar (July 12, 100 BC – March 15, 44 BC)
On this day in 1984, Democratic presidential candidate Walter F. Mondale named U.S. Rep. Geraldine A. Ferraro of New York to be his running mate. Ferraro was the first woman to run for vice president on a major party ticket.
Russian republic president Boris N. Yeltsin (above) announced his resignation from the the Soviet Communist Party on this day in 1990.
George Eastman (July 12, 1854 – March 14, 1932)
George Eastman was an American entrepreneur who founded the Eastman Kodak Company and popularized the use of roll film, helping to bring photography to the mainstream.
George Eastman taking pictures with his Kodak camera, 1926.
Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II (July 12, 1895 – August 23, 1960)
Full diplomatic relations were established between the United States and Vietnam on this day in 1995. President Clinton (above) made the announcement of the normalization.
The United States’ first secretary of the treasury, Alexander Hamilton, was killed by Vice President Aaron Burr in a duel on this day in 1804.
On this day in 1979, the abandoned UnitedStatesspace station Skylab returned to Earth. It burned up in the atmosphere and showered debris over the Indian Ocean and Australia.
Babe Ruth debuted in the major leagues with the Boston Red Sox on this day in 1914.
Laurence Olivier was among actors who dominated the British stage of the mid-20th century. For his work in films, Olivier received four Academy Awards: an honorary award for Henry V (1947), a Best Actor award and one as producer for Hamlet (1948), and a second honorary award in 1979 to recognize his lifetime of contribution to the art of film. He was nominated for nine other acting Oscars and one each for production and direction. Late in his career, he had considerable success in television roles.
On this day in 1940, the 114-day Battle of Britain began during World War II.
The Telstar Communications satellite was launched on this day in 1962. It relayed TV and telephone signals between Europe and the U.S.
Millard Fillmore(January 7, 1800 – March 8, 1874)
Following Zachary Taylor’s death,Millard Fillmore (above) became the 13th President of the United States on this day in 1850. He was the last member of the Whig Party to hold the office of president.
Zachary Taylor(November 24, 1784 – July 9, 1850)
The identity and source of Taylor’s illness are the subject of historical speculation, although it is known that Taylor and several of his cabinet members had come down with similar intestinal ailments on July 4, 1850, while attending holiday celebrations during a fund-raising event.
Shamil Salmanovich Basayev (January 14, 1965 – July 10, 2006)
Basayev was a Chechen militant Islamist and a leader of the Chechen movement.
He was killed by an explosion on July 10, 2006. Controversy still surrounds who was responsible for his death.
Folk singer/songwriter Arlo Davy Guthrieis 71 years older today.
