November 20: Happy Birthday Sean Young and Terrence Malick

Sean Young celebrates her 58th birthday today.  She made her film debut in Jane Austen in Manhattan in 1980 (a Merchant-Ivory film), and a year later had her first major role as MP Louise Cooper in one of 1981’s biggest hits, Stripes.  However, her next role, though it was in a far less successful film financially, was the one that became the most iconic of her career.

In the decade or so after Blade Runner, Young starred in some high-profile films, including David Lynch’s Dune (as Chani), Oliver Stone’s Wall Street (as Kate Gekko), and two films that were remakes of film noirs from the classic era, No Way Out (a remake of The Big Clock) and A Kiss Before Dying.  Her WTHH article gives all the details on her career—the roles that got away from her, and much more (and don’t miss the comments).  Through the wonders of 21st century technology, Young recently “returned” to the role of Rachael in Blade Runner 2049.

Director Terrence Malick is famous for being an extremely private person, and good photos of him are hard to find—hence my editorial decision to go with a single headline photo for today’s article.  Malick is turning 74 today.  He was one of the first graduates of the MFA program of the AFI Conservatory, and did some freelance writing work at the start of the 1970s, including an early draft of Dirty Harry.  His first feature was Badlands, starring Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek as an outlaw couple  based on Charles Starkweather and Caril Ann Fugate.  It was very well received, as was Malick’s second feature, which came out in 1978, and is very typical of his unique style.

Days of Heaven was widely acclaimed, winning an Oscar for Best Cinematography, and a Best Director honor for Malick at Cannes.  Then came the director’s famous twenty-year career hiatus; his next film, an adaptation of James Jones’s The Thin Red Line, was not released until 1998.  It received seven Oscar nominations and won the Golden Bear at Berlin.  His only film in the 2000s was The New World, but in the current decade, he has been downright prolific, making four narrative features, including The Tree of Life, which won the Palme d’Or at Cannes, and the documentary Voyage of Time.

Bob Einstein, who turns 75, is the creator and performer of the comic character of Super Dave Osborne, seen on a wide variety of television series over the years.  He has also won Emmys for writing for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (today is Dick Smothers’ birthday—see last year’s article) and for producing for Van Dyke and Company.

Jaina Lee Ortiz, who is 31 today, starred on Fox’s recently-canceled Rosewood for its two-season run.  Sergei Polunin, who is currently playing the Count Andrenyi in Murder on the Orient Express, is 28 today.  He also will appear in the upcoming films Red Sparrow and The Nutcracker and the Four Realms.

Country and bluegrass singer Dierks Bentley is turning 42 today.  He has had a lengthy list of  #1Country singles, most recently “Different for Girls,” along with six #1 Country albums, and is a thirteen-time Grammy nominee.

Chester Gould (1900-1985) was an American newspaper cartoonist.  He is best known for creating the comic strip Dick Tracy in 1931, and for writing and drawing it until 1977.

Last year on this date, Jeremy Jordan and Andrea Riseborough were our headliners.

Jeremy Jordan celebrates his 33rd today.  He continues to appear as Winn Schott on Supergirl (and has made a crossover appearance on The Flash as well).  Last year, he also found time to star in a Hollywood Bowl concert performance of West Side StoryAndrea Riseborough is turning 36.  She had supporting roles in this year’s Battle of the Sexes and The Death of Stalin, has several additional film projects in the pipeline, and will appear on the upcoming miniseries Waco.

Bo Derek, who turns 61, is largely retired, but will appear in the upcoming 5 Weddings, a joint Indian-American production.  Ming-Na Wen, who is turning 54, continues to star as Melinda May on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., while also doing a variety of voice acting.  Nadine Velazquez, a regular on the History Channel series Six, is celebrating her 39th today.  Joel McHale, who celebrates his 46th, will play Chevy Chase in A Futile and Stupid Gesture and one of the human characters in Brian Henson’s The Happytime MurdersJoe Walsh, who is 70, continues to be active both as a solo performer and with Eagles, who have undergone a “second reformation” in the wake of Glenn Frey’s death.

If today is your birthday, congratulations on sharing your big day with these notable names.  Birthday wishes to everyone celebrating a big day today.  Come back tomorrow for more celebrity birthdays.

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lebeau
Admin
6 years ago

Sean Young is obviously a blog favorite even if the feeling isn’t mutual. Both Young and Bo Derek were regulars in the Razzie series a while back.

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admin
6 years ago
Reply to  lebeau

I’ll take Sean young over Bo Derek any day, but should I take Bo Derek over Brian Dennehy? Now that’s a tough call. I mean, Bo Derek may be “10” but check out Dennehy running the bar. Arthur would be proud, so would Liza Minneli and Christopher Cross, or maybe I’m just caught between the moon and New York City. Hey, the best I can do is fall in love. i know it’s crazy, but it’s true!

admin
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admin
6 years ago

I think Sean Young is a guy’s lady; she’ll smack you in the mouth, Yet act her buns off. Happy Birthday Sean Young!

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admin
6 years ago

Oh wow, Joe Walsh? I’m a “The Warriors” fan. “It’s survival in the city, when you live from day to day. See, the streets don’t have much pity”. Yes!

lebeau
Admin
6 years ago
Reply to  jestak2

I am avoiding saying something about Young because it is potentially spoilery. But she did get a moment in the spotlight this year which was nice to see.

While Dick Tracy isn’t as relevant as he was in his hey day, yeah, I think he’d still be considered iconic.

admin
Admin
admin
6 years ago

I wonder if Sean Young knows that she has a bit of a fan club at the Leblog, and it isn’t jokes (kidding maybe, but laughs among friends can be fun). Sign me up for more Sean, to be seen!

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