Top Ten: The Greatest People/Things Born on June 6th!
Wednesday, June 6, 2012 at 9:00AM 
They say it's your birthday.♬ ♩♬♩♬ it's my birthday, too.
Herewith, in semi off the cuff order, the greatest peoplethings born on this day in history. Happy June 6th!
Honorable mention...
Jason Isaacs -The impossibly hot 49 year old actor studied to be a lawyer but if he had stuck with it we would have never had his Captain Hook, or his Lucius Malfoy, or his bickering married screenwriter in Friends With Money, or even known who he is. Tragedy averted.
VC Andrews - not for writing the ridiculous "Flowers in the Attic" but for inspiring the ridiculous genius of Parker Posey's Waiting for Guffman scene in which the brilliant comic actress uses it for her small town theater audition.
"and who's on top and who's on bottom now? Huh?!"
TOP TEN JUNE 6TH BIRTHDAY PEOPLETHINGS!
10 Levi Stubbs
From the Four Topps to Audrey II. I ♥ Little Shop of Horrors, don't you.
09 Chantal Akerman
I feel such guilt that I still haven't seen Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles
08 Billie Whitelaw
She hasn't appeared in a movie since Hot Fuzz but the BAFTA winning actress and Samuel Beckett muse has been giving it on stage and screen since the 1950s in everything from Quills, to Hitchcock's Frenzy to Charlie Bubbles and was even the voice of crazy ass eyeball dropping muppet astronomer Aughra in The Dark Crystal.
Fun trivia: Billie Whitelaw played the evil nanny of that little toddler Anti-Christ in The Omen, whose birthday was also June 6th. Not So Fun Triva: When I was little I snuck into the living room to watch The Omen on TV by myself. I was so scared I could barely sleep for the next two nights and since I was also a June 6th baby, I had to search my scalp for the mark of the devil afterwards!
07 TETRIS!
The video game turns 28 years old today. Nine time out of ten its geometric puzzle descendants are the cel phone apps that I accidentally become obsessed with. I would have placed it much higher but for all the months of my life it has consumed... and for what?
I'll never have those months back! Curse you Tetris.
06 Aaron Sorkin
For A Few Good Men, The American President, Moneyball and especially The Social Network. If he cared a little more about writing great female characters to go with his tremendously interesting male characters he'd be just about the perfect screenwriter.
05 Aleksandr Pushkin
For being such a crucial figure in Russian and, hell, world literature. The Russian noble and poet's legacy can't be denied. He even inspired one of the great Oscar Best Picture winners Amadeus (1984) with his short work "Mozart and Salieri"
04 Harvey Feirstein
The inimitable croaksqueak voice, the great wit, the wonderful plays and movies, the multiple Tony Awards, the homo bravery. Such a trailblazer, such a great performer and man. Edna Turnblad (#2) forever! See: Torch Song Trilogy, La Cage Aux Folles, The Sissy Duckling, and more.
03 Sandra Bernhard
For her Oscar nomination worthy brilliance in King of Comedy (1983). For one of the best and bravest concert films of all time Without You I'm Nothing (1990). And for just being her own inimitable self. The best stars are always irreplaceably singular.
And though the Sandra/Madonna days are long gone *sniffle* I just have to share my single favorite talk show appearance of all time... I watch it at least once every couple years. It is serving up 1988 authenticity. It is time machine realness.
02 The drive in movie theater! For reals. On June 6th, 1933 the first one opened for business. Thank you New Jersey. I have rarely been to the drive-in in my life but I love the concept and I love drive-in scenes in movies even more than the concept.
The first movie I ever saw at a drive-in was this (incidentally the only time I ever remember my mom and dad taking me to the drive in *sniffle*) and the best time I ever had at a drive-in was this (college was so fun. sigh) and the last one I ever saw was this. Point being: it's hard to forget going to the drive-in.
me, plotting eternal youthful middle age01 Me
I'm turning 40 (ugh). Again! I'm so happy that people can legally discriminate against me in the job market now. Wheeee. If you'd like to soften the blow, take the subscription rush challenge and I'll see you again on June 30th.
Since Wisconsin's citizenry tried to ruin my birthday last night I'm turning to actresses for solace, as I am wont to do: An Evening with Jane Fonda tonight and Jane Krakowksi live this weekend. Yes.
recent top 10s
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Reader Comments (49)
You share a birthday with Sandra Bernhard? That is crazy cool! Knowing it would totally make me feel better about turning 40... Especially if I didn't look a day over 23 in my blog profile photos ;)
Have a great day.
x
Happy Birthday?
Does this make you a Rat according to the Chinese calendar?
Big Rats are: Marlon Brando, Julianne Moore, Tilda Swinton, Melissa Leo, Todd Haynes
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
Happy birthday!
Feliz cumpleaños!!!!
Please don't feel guilty that you haven't seen Jeanne Dielman. Here's a summary:
Day one:
Cooks food, welcomes a man, son comes over, he does homework, they eat, they talk about how she's a completely independent woman before he goes to bed.
Day Two:
Same basic things happen with no changes.
Day Three:
Same basic things happen, except, this time, we learn, for certain, that she's a sex worker and those guys were clients. She kills the guy (in a poorly framed and edited sequence) she brought over because he gives her an orgasm and I had to wonder WHY? If she's so against the idea of having someone bring her to that state AND she doesn't have a pimp, WHY is she in the sex trade? Why isn't she a chef or something? On that unanswered question, you watch her sit at a table for five minutes and then the film cuts to credits.
That's my perspective on the Jeanne Dielman experience. A mostly plotless drama-free movie that somehow manages to end on what amounts to a MASSIVE PLOT HOLE that it never even attempts to fill in.
It's your birthday song, you're a happy boy!
The 40s are meant to be the most interesting stage of your life. Think about the lucky 13, the 13 women in their 40s lucky enough to be declared Best Actress.
You look adorable so no one will be the wiser.
Happy Birthday!
I'm so jealous about the evening with Jane Fonda. Have you ever seen The Chapman Report? It is a hoot and a half but with three other great actresses besides Jane-Claire Bloom, Shelley Winters and the divine Glynis Johns.
Could not agree more about Jason Isaacs!
One other big milestone today for all lovers of campy cinema-this would have been the 100th birthday of Maria Montez.
Have the happiest of days today, Nathaniel, and remember that 40 is the new 30 which is the new 20 which is the new 12.
Happy, happy, birthday, Nathaniel!
Love your love for the drive-in - the only time I have ever been was last year for a Don't Be Afraid of the Dark/Fright Night double feature. It was lots of fun, except for the fact that those are two very dark movies lighting-wise, which made it kind of difficult to see. But I had so much fun that I didn't really care about that all that much!
Happy Birthday! Can't believe you're 40. Never would have guessed.
Happy birthday!! Just be glad we are truly part of the greatest generation, pop culture-wise at least.
Hello to Jason Isaacs.
Oh, and happy birthday to my favorite film blogger out there...by miles!
Happy birthday! But 40 "again"... Shouldn't it be more like 43? Just a guess, not an insult.
German writer Thomas Mann (among other things: The Magic Mountain, Death in Venice) was also born on June 6th.
♫♪♫♪♫ Happy Birthday to you... Happy Birthday to you... Happy Birthday... Happy Birthday to you♫♪♫♪♫
My best wishes to you Nathaniel.
Happy birthday!!! Wisconsin is very sad but not surprising. And the recalls worked to give Dems a majority in the state senate, which is really important.
Sandra Berhnard and Harvey Fierstein are some awesome birthday-mates but I have to say this has been the year of Jason Isaacs for me. Between Case Histories and Awake, he has completely grabbed my attention.
Happy Birthday!
and Jason Isaacs...yum.
Happy Birthday!!! Your photos definitely show that you're aging well. May not comment, but am always reading your blog.
Happy Birthday! (I am turning 40 next April so I know the feeling...)
Congrats nate!!!!!
Happy birthday.
Re: Sorkin, come on - CJ and Donna on The West Wing? Dana and Natalie on Sports Night? Granted, the roster is not so impressive in his film work, but his TV work features plenty of great writing for women!!
You also share your birthday with Thomas Mann, Robert Englund and Paul Giamatti.
Well, congratulations from Germany.
MrW (turning 30 in 13 days, sharing my birthday with Gena Rowlands, Pauline Kael, Dame May Whitty, Salman Rushdi and Kathleen Turner)
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday Nate!
Happy Birthday Nat! I promise to give you a small present in the coming week...
Have a WONDERFUL day.
Happy Birthday to and all the others mentioned (but especially Damian *laughsevilly*)
"Happy Birthday to YOU" that should have been, obviously!
Happy Birthday fellow Gemini
Happy birthday :)
FELICIDADES from South of the Border to one of my favorite bloggers EVER! Happy Birthday Nathanil!!
Django Unchained trailer! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8tOaSqHZdU and while we're on the subject, maybe you could comment on DiCaprio's Oscar nominations? He's been nominated thrice, but he starred in several Oscary films that could've gotten him nods, like Titanic, Revolutionary Road, The Departed ("supporting) and J Edgar among others. Do you think he woulld've been deserving of any of those? Which ones do you consider his best perfomances? What do you think are his chances for either Django or Gatsby this year?
Oh, sorry, I meant to post that in the Ask Nathaniel entry. I'll change it.
Happy Birthday by the way!
Happy birthday! I rarely comment, but I love your blog.
Happy Birthday Nathaniel!
Happy birthday Nathaniel! And don't be too bummed about your age, you look like your in your early 30s.
Happy Birthday! The 40s will be good to you, I imagine. There's nothing wrong with turning 40. Congratulations.
Happy birthday! Harvey Fierstein and Tetris, that's great company.
YOU'RE 40? I thought you were in your late 20s/early 30s. Happy birthday!
Happy Birthday!!!
40? you're just a baby
happy birthday from me and my special birthday twin onj
x
A very Happy Birthday to you!
Happy birthday, whippersnapper! I can say that because I was born on 30 May 1972 so am exactly one week older. Best advice I got on turning 40 last week: it's better than the alternative...
Happy Birthday Nathaniel! You are the best.
From your comments I I concluded that you are a little bit older than me, but you look younger!
Jason Isaac! - I just discovered him with Awake, and I am very sad that he is already taken away again from my weekly viewing.
YOU ARE 40??? :O
You do not look it.
Happy belated birthday Nathaniel.
joyeux anniversaire!
Happy Belated Birthday, Nat! you make 40 look gooooood. :) (but seriously, what's your secret? haha.)
DAFAQ!!! How are you 40. From pictures I suspected you were in your 20s (not even joking)
Happy Birthday Dude!