Happy 65th Birthday, Ponch! Actor Erik Estrada played Officer Frank ‘Ponch’ Poncherello on CHiPs from 1977-83.

Also on today’s birthday list: Chuck Woolery is 73 and Jerry Lewis turns 88. Woolery appeared on Love American Style and the syndicated children’s series New Zoo Revue. He was the original host of the NBC daytime version of Wheel of Fortune and later hosted 1980s dating game Love Connection (we’ll be back in 2 and 2!).

Jerry Lewis was the comedic partner of Dean Martin and appeared in a number of movies (The Bellboy, The Nutty Professor). He guested on Batman and Ben Casey, plus starred in several short-lived variety shows in the 1960s. Lewis was also well-known as the host of the MDA Labor Day Telethon from 1966-2010.

March 16 was also the birthday of several since departed classic TV friends. Mercedes McCambridge guested on Bonanza, Lost In Space and Rawhide. Aussie actor Leo McKern appeared in a number of British series, appearing on The Adventures of Robin Hood and The Prisoner. He also starred in the long-running UK crime drama Rumpole of the Bailey.

Others born today include silent film star Conrad Nagel, who later guested on several classic TV shows, among them The Defenders, Perry Mason and Route 66. Violinist-comedian Henny Youngman (take my wife, please!) appeared on many variety and talk shows, including The Ed Sullivan Show, The Merv Griffin Show, Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In and The Tonight Show.

We said goodbye to some classic TV favorites on March 16, including actor-director Ivan Dixon (Hogan’s Heroes), Anthony George (Checkmate, Dark Shadows, One Life to Live) and UK actor Frank Thornton (Are You Being Served?, Last of the Summer Wine).

Arthur Godfrey also died on this day. He hosted a number of early television shows such as Arthur Godfrey & His Friends, Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts and Arthur Godfrey Time. The Talent Scouts show also aired on network radio. Godfrey co-hosted the 1960 version of Candid Camera and appeared on classic shows like Ellery Queen, The Hollywood Squares and The Love Boat.

Jimmy Baio leads off today’s classic TV birthday list. The 52 year old was a regular on Soap and also happens to be the cousin of actor Scott Baio (Happy Days).

Also celebrating a birthday: Craig Wasson (guested on The Bob Newhart Show, Hart to Hart, Lou Grant, Phyllis) is 60, televangelist Jimmy Swaggart turns 79 and Judd Hirsch (Delvecchio, Taxi) is 79.

March 15 was also the birthday of a number of since departed classic TV favorites. Macdonald Carey guested on Burke’s Law, Police Story and Thriller. He was a longtime cast member of the daytime soap Days of Our Lives and his voice is still heard in the show’s opening: like sands through the hourglass… Frank Coghlan Jr. was a child film actor who later appeared on The Beverly Hillbillies and Shazam! Joe E. Ross (ooh! ooh!) is remembered for his roles on Car 54 Where Are You?, Hong Kong Phooey and The Phil Silvers Show.

Other born this day: Nick Stewart (Amos and Andy) and Lawrence Tierney. Tierney appeared in a number of movies (Dillinger, Reservoir Dogs) and classic TV shows (Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Naked City, Peter Gunn). He also had a memorable role on an early episode of Seinfeld, playing Elaine’s father.

This was also the day we said farewell to some classic TV friends. Gail Davis starred in the early western series Annie Oakley. Ron Silver guested on McMillan & Wife and The Rockford Files. He was a regular on Rhoda and later The West Wing. Ann Sothern starred in The Ann Sothern Show and Private Secretary. She also provided the voice of My Mother The Car, a cult classic sitcom about a woman who is reincarnated as her son(Jerry Van Dyke)’s vehicle!

Longtime radio deejay Rick Dees leads off today’s birthday list. The 64 year old Dees appeared on The Brady Bunch Variety Hour and created the 1970s novelty song Disco Duck.

Also celebrating birthdays: film and TV actor Billy Crystal (Saturday Night Live, Soap) is 66, Steve Kanaly (Dallas) turns 68 and producer-composer Quincy Jones is 81. Jones composed the themes for a number of classic TV shows, including The Bill Cosby Show, Ironside and Sanford & Son.

March 14 was also the birthday of some classic TV friends who are no longer with us. Cartoonist Hank Ketchum created the character Dennis the Menace. Writer Max Shulman came up with another character, Dobie Gillis. Both Dennis and Dobie turned into long-running TV sitcoms, each airing on CBS from 1959 to 1963.

Another guy named Dennis was born this day. Veteran character actor Dennis Patrick was a regular on Dark Shadows and later Dallas, but most classic TV fans probably remember him best from his many guest appearances on classic TV shows. The silver-haired Patrick had a 4-decade career including roles on Barnaby Jones, The Big Valley, Eight Is Enough, Emergency!, Laramie and Perry Mason.

Today was also the day we lost some classic TV favorites. Kirk Alyn guested on Battlestar Galactica, The Donna Reed Show and Naked City. He was also the first actor to play Superman (1948 movie serial). Altovise Davis appeared on Charlie’s Angels and CHiPs. She was the widow of legendary entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. Cartoonist Chic Young created the classic character Blondie.

Peter Graves also died on March 14. He starred in such classic TV series as Fury and Mission: Impossible. He showed his comedic side as Captain Clarence Oveur in the slapstick movie Airplane! (Joey, have you ever been in a Turkish prison?) Graves later served as the narrator of the cable series Biography. He was the brother of another classic TV favorite: James Arness (Gunsmoke).

Former child actress Kathy Hilton turns 55 today. Hilton guested on Family Affair, Happy Days and The Rockford Files. She’s also the mom of reality star Paris Hilton and the half-sister of actresses Kim and Kyle Richards.

Also on the birthday list: Dana Delany (appeared on daytime drama Love of Life, later starred on China Beach and Desperate Housewives) is 58, Robin Duke (SCTV, Saturday Night Live) turns 60, Robert S. Woods (recurring role on The Waltons, regular on One Life to Live from 1979-2013) is 66 and Neil Sedaka is 75. The singer-songwriter guested on numerous classic variety and talk shows, including The Carol Burnett Show, The Ed Sullivan Show and The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour.

Others celebrating a March 13 birthday: Lesley Parrish (79) and Joseph Mascolo (85). Parrish appeared on many classic shows of the 1960s and 70s, among them Adam-12, Batman, Love American Style, Mannix, Perry Mason and Star Trek. Mascolo guested on All in the Family, Baretta and Kojak. He was also a regular on the 1975 Jack Palance series Bronk and has been in the cast of daytime soap Days of Our Lives since 1982.

Today was also the birthday of several since-passed classic TV faces. Peter Breck was a regular on The Big Valley and Maverick. Big band leader Sammy Kaye guested on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Merv Griffin Show.

Several classic TV favorites passed away March 13. Peter Tomarken appeared on Medical Center and The Rockford Files. He is best known as the host of the 1980s game show Press Your Luck. Maureen Stapleton (no relation to Jean) guested on such classic shows as Car 54 Where Are You?, Naked City and Studio One. She later appeared in a number of films, including Airport, Cocoon and The Money Pit.

Veteran character actor Malachi Throne also died this day. He co-starred in the Robert Wagner series It Takes A Thief and guested on a long list of classic TV shows. That list includes Batman (he was villain False Face), Ben Casey, The Big Valley, Hawaii Five-0, Kojak, Lost in Space, Mr. Novak, The Six Million Dollar Man, Star Trek and The Untouchables.

)

Lassie says woof woof! That means Happy Birthday, Jon Provost! He played young Timmy Martin for seven seasons of the classic family adventure drama series Lassie. Provost turns 64 today.

Others celebrating birthdays include Frank Welker (68). The legendary voice artist/actor has over 700 credits on his resume, most notably as Fred Jones on the long-running cartoon franchise Scooby Doo. He’s been doing that voice since the character’s launch in 1969. He’s also appeared in such 1970s classics as Love American Style and The Partridge Family.

Also born on March 12: actress-singer Liza Minelli (actress Judy Garland’s daughter, appeared on many 1960s and 70s era variety and talk shows) is 68, longtime NBC newsman Lloyd Dobyns (Weekend) turns 78 and Barbara Feldon (Get Smart) is 81.

Today was also the birthday of several classic TV friends no longer with us. Georgia Ellis guested on the 1950’s version of Dragnet and another cop drama, The Lineup. She is best known for playing Miss Kitty in the radio version of Gunsmoke. Stage and film star Gordon MacRae (Oklahoma!) had his own TV show and guested on The Ed Sullivan Show, McCloud and What’s My Line? He was the ex-husband of actress Sheila MacRae, who passed away just last week.

Several favorites passed away on March 12. Juanin Clay was a regular on the daytime drama The Edge of Night and appeared on Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. Maurice Evans was best known as The Puzzler on Batman and Samantha’s father on Bewitched. He also had a memorable role as Dr. Zaius in the classic 1968 film Planet of the Apes.