Judith Light turns 65 today. The actress best known for her role on the sitcom Who’s The Boss? also had early roles on Kojak and daytime soap One Life to Live. Light later appeared on Law & Order: SVU and Ugly Betty.
Other classic TV connections celebrating birthdays today: Mia Farrow (Peyton Place) is 69, film actor Joe Pesci (had several uncredited appearances on The Lucy Show, starred in a short-lived 80s comedy-drama Half Nelson) turns 71, Sheila Kuehl (The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis) is 73, UK actor Clive Swift (appeared in numerous UK shows of the 60s and 70s, best known for his later role on Keeping Up Appearances) is 78 and Ronnie Claire Edwards (Corabeth on The Waltons) turns 81.
A number of classic TV favorites were born February 9 but are no longer with us, including UK-born stage, film and radio star Ronald Colman (The Halls of Ivy), Disney animator Bill Justice (worked on movies and Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color), country singer Ernest Tubb (The Ernest Tubb Show) and Peggy Wood (starred in 1950s comedy-drama Mama, later appeared on One Life to Live).
UK actress Heather Angel was also born this day. Angel made numerous guest appearances on such classic TV series as Lawman, Perry Mason and Peyton Place. She is best known here for her role as Mr. French’s lady friend Miss Faversham on the sitcom Family Affair.
Two classic TV stars died on February 9. Longtime western sidekick George “Gabby” Hayes (The Gabby Hayes Show) and David Wayne. Wayne guested on many classic shows, including Batman and Hawaii Five-O. He also starred on several, including the 70s Jim Hutton version of Ellery Queen and the sitcom House Calls.