Actors:

Ellen Barkin is 70 (“Sea of Love,” “Ocean’s Thirteen”)

Peter Billingsley is 53 (“A Christmas Story,” “Paternity”)

Jon Cryer is 59 (“Pretty in Pink,” “Two and A Half Men”)

Lukas Haas is 48 (“Testament,” “Witness”)

Martin Lawrence is 59 (“Martin,” “Bad Boys”)

David Lyons is 48 (“Eat Pray Love,” “Revolution”)

The late Sir Charlie Chaplin (1889 – 1977) (FAST FACTS: Comedic silent film icon who gained world fame for portraying his character, The Tramp, and starred in “The Great Dictator” and “Modern Times.” His career lasted more than 75 years)

The late Barry Nelson (1917 – 2007) (He played James Bond in the 1954 film, “Casino Royale”)

The late Peter Ustinov (1921 – 2004) (“The Sundowners,” “Agatha Christie Mysteries”)

Musicians:

Akon is 51 (His given name, Aliaume Damala Badara Akon Thiam)

Chance The Rapper is 31 (his mama knows him as Chancelor Jonathan Bennett)

Bobby Vinton is 89

The late Gerry Rafferty (1947 – 2011)…he would have been 77

The late Dusty Springfield (1939 – 1999)…she would have been 85

The late Selena Quintanilla (1971 – 1995)…she would have been 53

Plus:

Legendary New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick is 72

Basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is 77 (FAST FACTS: He is a 6-time NBA Champion, 6-time NBA MVP and 19-time All-Star)

Model Alek Wek is 47 (As the first black model whose looks did not conform to Caucasian aesthetics, she has been hailed for her influence on the perception of beauty in the fashion industry.)

Billy West is 72 (Voice actor who has notable roles as the voice of Stimpy from Ren & Stimpy, Roger Klotz on Doug, Elmer Fudd, Popeye, and Woody Woodpecker)

The late composer Henry Mancini (1924 – 1994) (FAST FACTS: He wrote many legendary film and TV scores, including "Moon River'' and the theme of "The Pink Panther" film series. Winning 20 Grammy Awards and nominated for 72 throughout his lifetime, he wrote the scores for "The Thorn Birds," "Breakfast at Tiffany's," "Days of Wine and Roses," and the themes for "Peter Gunn," "Newhart," "Hotel," and "Remington Steele," just to name a few. He was given the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously in 1995.

The late inventor/aviator Wilbur Wright (1867 – 1912) (FAST FACT: He is credited by some as the co-inventor and co-pilot of the first successful airplane, which he called a "flying machine." He and Orville's planes were later used in WWI and set the stage for modern aviation. One note though? Gustave Whitehead beat him by two years.)

(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Ebony)

Mike Trivisonno