Susan Alexandra "Sigourney" Weaver
Sigourney Weaver played the resourceful action hero Ellen Ripley (above) in the Alien film franchise beginning in 1979. She also
played Dana Barrett in Ghostbusters (1984) and Ghostbusters II
(1989) and Dr. Grace Augustine in Avatar (2009).
ROSS SIMPSON
On this day in 1871, The Great Chicago Fire began in southwest
Chicago, possibly in a barn owned by Patrick and Katherine O’Leary,
was fanned by strong southwesterly winds, the flames rage for more
than 24 hours, eventually leveling three and a half square miles and
wiping out one-third of the city. Approximately 250 people were
killed in the fire; 98,500 people are left homeless; 17,450 buildings
were destroyed. Parts of the upper Midwest were also scorched.
Donald James Larsen (New York Yankees) pitched the first perfect
game in the history of the World Series on this day in 1956.
New York Yankees catcher Yogi Berra leaping into the
arms of pitcher Don Larsen after the completion of his
perfect game.
Don James Larsen turned 89 August 7.
New York Yankees’ Don Larsen (above) sits in the dugout at the
Yankees Old Timers’ Day baseball game Sunday, June 17, 2018,
at Yankee Stadium in New York.
MIKE GRACIA
On this day in 2001, the U.S. and Great Britain began airstrikes in Afghanistan in response to that state’s support of terrorism and
Osama bin Laden. The act was the first military action taken in
response to the terrorist attacks on the U.S. on September 11,
2001.
President George W. Bush addresses the nation announcing the
airstrikes.
US airstrikes destroy Taliban camp in Afghanistan.
A cross marked the fence where 21-year-old Matthew Shepard
was robbed, beaten and left to die on this day in 1998. He was
lured by two men pretending to also be gay. Shepard was taken
to a hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado, where he died six days
later from severe head injuries. The fence has since been torn
down.
Matthew Wayne "Matt" Shepard
(December 1, 1976 – October 12, 1998)
Shepard’s death inspired the play The Laramie Project, later
turned into a television movie, countless songs, a foundation
devoted to his memory along with a political lobbying effort
that pressed for, and eventually obtained, a new federal hate
crimes statute named after him.
From left: Russell Henderson and Aaron McKinney
were charged with the murder of Matthew Shepard
and are both serving long prison terms.
John J Mellencamp (previously known as John Cougar Mellencamp)
is 67 years old today.
Singer-songwriter John Mellencamp is best known for his #1 hit song, "Jack
& Diane." He has been nominated for more than ten Grammy Awards and
was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008.
Scott Wilson (William Delano Wilson)
(March 29, 1942 – October 6, 2018)
Scott Wilson, the actor known as Hershel on The Walking Dead, has died.
The news was confirmed by The Walking Dead‘s official Twitter on Saturday,
who sent their condolences to the actor’s family and friends.
From left: Robert Blake and Scott Wilson in the 1968 film In Cold
Blood.
