Entertainment

On Oct. 4, 1931, the comic strip “Dick Tracy,” created by Chester Gould, made its debut.

In 1957, “Leave It To Beaver” made its debut on CBS. After a year, the show switched to ABC and ran until 1963.

In 1961, Bob Dylan made his concert hall debut in New York. About 50 people attended, mostly his friends, and he earned $20.

In 1970, singer Janis Joplin was found dead of a heroin overdose at a hotel in Los Angeles. She was 27. She had just finished recording the album “Pearl.”

In 1980, singer Carly Simon collapsed due to exhaustion on stage in Pittsburgh. She ended up canceling her tour.

In 1989, comedian Graham Chapman of Monty Python’s Flying Circus died of cancer in southern England. He was 48.

In 1990, “Beverly Hills 90210″ premiered on Fox.

In 1992, singer Sinead O’Connor ripped up a picture of the pope during an after-midnight appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” NBC’s switchboard in New York was flooded with calls, most of them criticizing O’Connor’s actions.

Today’s Birthdays: Country singer Leroy Van Dyke is 95. Actor Felicia Farr (“The Player,” “Kotch”) is 92. Author Roy Blount Jr. is 83. Actor Lori Saunders (“Petticoat Junction”) is 83. Actor Clifton Davis (“Madam Secretary,” “Amen”) is 79. Actor Susan Sarandon is 78. Actor Armand Assante is 75. Actor Alan Rosenberg (“Cybill,” ″L.A. Law”) is 74. Actor Christoph Waltz (“Inglourious Basterds,” ″Water for Elephants”) is 68. Actor Bill Fagerbakke (“Coach,” ″SpongeBob SquarePants”) is 67. Actor Kyra Schon (“Night of the Living Dead”) is 67. Rap producer Russell Simmons is 67. Actor Wendy Makkena (“Sister Act” films) is 66. Keyboardist Chris Lowe of The Pet Shop Boys is 65. Keyboardist Gregg “Hobie” Hubbard of Sawyer Brown is 64. Actor David W. Harper (“The Waltons”) is 63. Singer Jon Secada is 63. Media personality John Melendez (AKA “Stuttering John”) is 59. Actor Jerry Minor (“Dr. Ken,” ″Community”) is 57. Actor Liev Schreiber (“The Manchurian Candidate,” ″Scream 2″) is 57. Actor Abraham Benrubi (“Men In Trees,” ″ER”) is 55. Country singer-guitarist Heidi Newfield (Trick Pony) is 54. Singer-guitarist M. Ward of She And Him is 51. Actor Alicia Silverstone is 48. Keyboardist Robbie Bennett of The War On Drugs is 46. Actor Dana Davis (“Franklin and Bash,” “10 Things I Hate About You”) is 46. Actor Phillip Glasser (“Hang Time”) is 46. Singer-guitarist Marc Roberge of O.A.R. is 46. Actor Rachel Leigh Cook (“Perception,” “Josie and the Pussycats”) is 45. Actor Jimmy Workman (“Addams Family Values”) is 44. Singer Jessica Benson (3LW) is 37. Actor Melissa Benoist (“Supergirl,” ″Glee”) is 36. Actor Dakota Johnson (“Fifty Shades Of Grey”) is 35. Singer Leigh-Anne Pinnock of Little Mix is 33.

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On Oct. 3, 1941, the film “The Maltese Falcon” opened.

In 1945, ten-year-old Elvis Presley made his first public appearance in a talent show at the Mississippi-Alabama Dairy Show, singing “Old Shep.” He won second place and $5.

In 1954, “Father Knows Best” premiered on CBS.

In 1955, “Captain Kangaroo” premiered on CBS, and “The Mickey Mouse Club” made its debut on ABC.

In 1957, “The Woody Woodpecker Show” made its premiere on ABC.

In 1967, folk singer Woody Guthrie died in New York at the age of 55. Guthrie had been in the hospital for most of the last decade of his life, suffering from Huntington’s disease.

In 1998, actor Roddy McDowall died of cancer in Los Angeles. He was 70.

In 2000, singer-bassist Benjamin Orr of The Cars died of pancreatic cancer in Atlanta. He was 53.

In 2003, Roy Horn of Siegfried and Roy was mauled by a white tiger during a performance in Las Vegas.

Today’s Birthdays: Composer Steve Reich is 88. Singer Chubby Checker is 83. Actor Alan Rachins (“Dharma and Greg,” “L.A. Law”) is 82. Singer-guitarist Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac is 75. Jazz saxophonist Ronnie Laws is 74. Blues singer Keb’ Mo’ is 73. Actor Hart Bochner (“Breaking Away”) is 68. Actor Peter Frechette (“Profiler”) is 68. Actor-comedian Greg Proops is 65. Actor-singer Jack Wagner is 65. Drummer Tommy Lee of Motley Crue is 62. Actor Clive Owen is 60. Actor Janel Moloney (“The West Wing”) is 55. Singer Gwen Stefani of No Doubt is 55. Singer Kevin Richardson of the Backstreet Boys is 53. Singer G. Love is 52. Actor Keiko Agena (“Prodigal Son,” “Gilmore Girls”) is 51. Actor Neve (NEV) Campbell is 51. Actor Lena Headey (“Game of Thrones”) is 51. Singer India.Arie (ah-REE’) is 49. Rapper Talib Kweli is 49. Actor Alanna Ubach (“Legally Blonde” movies) is 49. Actor Seann William Scott (movie “Dukes of Hazzard,” ″American Pie”) is 48. Actor Shannyn Sossamon (TV’s “Moonlight,” Film’s “The Rules of Attraction”) is 46. Guitarist Josh Klinghoffer (Red Hot Chili Peppers) is 45. Actor Seth Gabel (“Fringe,” “Dirty Sexy Money”) is 43. Guitarist Mark King of Hinder is 42. Actor Tessa Thompson (“Westworld”) is 41. Country singer Cherrill Green of Edens Edge is 41. Country singer Drake White is 41. Actor Meagan Holder (“Pitch”) is 40. Actor Christopher Marquette (“Barry,” “Joan of Arcadia”) is 40. Singer-actor Ashlee Simpson is 40. Rapper A$AP Rocky is 35. Actor Alicia Vikander (“The Danish Girl,” “Ex Machina”) is 36. Actor Noah Schnapp (“Stranger Things”) is 20.

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On Oct. 2, 1957, Connie Francis recorded “Who’s Sorry Now.” She hated the song but recorded it after an argument with her father.

In 1959, “The Twilight Zone,” created and hosted by Rod Serling, made its debut on CBS.

In 1965, The Who made their American TV debut on “Shindig!” performing “I Can’t Explain.”

In 1967, narcotics agents with the San Francisco police raided the communal house of the Grateful Dead on Ashbury Street for marijuana possession. Several members of the band were arrested, but Jerry Garcia was not home at the time.

In 1971, “Soul Train” went into national syndication. The show, hosted by Don Cornelius, premiered a year earlier in Chicago.

In 1977, the bodies of Elvis Presley and his mother, Gladys, were moved from Forest Hill Cemetery in Memphis to the grounds of Graceland after an apparent attempt to steal the bodies.

In 1985, actor Rock Hudson died at his home in Beverly Hills, California, after battling AIDS. He was 59.

In 1998, singing cowboy Gene Autry died at his home in Los Angeles after a long illness. He was 91.

In 2002, the compilation album “Elvis 30 Number One Hits” went to number one in the U.S. and 16 other countries, 25 years after Elvis Presley’s death.

In 2004, Billy Joel married Katie Lee at his home on Long Island, New York. He was 55, she was 22. They have since split up.

In 2005, the divorce between actors Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston was finalized.

In 2017, musician Tom Petty died at a hospital after going into cardiac arrest at his home in Malibu, California. He was 66.

Today’s Birthdays: Critic Rex Reed is 86. Singer Don McLean is 79. Actor Avery Brooks (“Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” “Spenser: For Hire”) is 76. Celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz is 75. Guitarist Mike Rutherford of Genesis and Mike and the Mechanics is 74. Musician Sting is 73. Actor Robin Riker (“General Hospital,” ″The Bold and the Beautiful”) is 72. Actor Lorraine Bracco (“The Sopranos”) is 70. Guitarist Greg Jennings of Restless Heart is 70. Singer Phil Oakey of Human League is 69. Singer Freddie Jackson is 69. Singer-producer Robbie Nevil is 66. Drummer Bud Gaugh (GOF) of Sublime and Long Beach Dub All-Stars is 57. Musician Gillian Welch is 57. Actor Joey Slotnick (“Boston Public,” ″The Single Guy”) is 56. Country singer Kelly Willis is 56. Singer Dion Allen of Az Yet is 54. Actor-talk show host Kelly Ripa (“Live With Kelly and Mark,” ″All My Children”) is 54. Guitarist Jim Root of Slipknot is 53. Singer Tiffany is 53. Singer LaTocha Scott of Xscape is 52. Singer Lene Nystrom (Aqua) is 51. Actor Efren Ramirez (“Napoleon Dynamite”) is 51. Bassist Mike Rodden of Hinder is 42. Actor Christopher Larkin (“The 100”) is 7. Singer Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes is 36. Actor Samantha Barks (“Les Miserables”) is 34. Actor Elizabeth McLaughlin (“Hand of God,” “Pretty Little Liars”) is 31.

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On Oct. 1, 1962, Johnny Carson took over as regular host of NBC’s “Tonight” show, succeeding Jack Paar. He retired in 1992 after a 29-year run on late-night television.

In 1967, Pink Floyd arrived in the U.S. for their first American tour, a month after their debut album, “The Piper at the Gates of Dawn,” was released.

In 1968, the cult horror movie “Night of the Living Dead” had its world premiere in Pittsburgh, where it was filmed.

In 1970, singer Curtis Mayfield left The Impressions to go solo.

Also in 1970, musician Jimi Hendrix was buried in his hometown of Seattle, Washington.

In 1975, an intruder shot and killed Al Jackson, drummer for Booker T. and the MG’s, at his home in Memphis. The group was planning a reunion at the time of Jackson’s death.

In 1977, Elton John became the first rock star to be honored in New York City’s Madison Square Garden Hall of Fame.

Also in 1998, the president of the Philippines banned actor Claire Danes from entering the country. Filipinos were angry that in an interview, Danes had called Manila smelly, weird and full of rats.

In 2003, actor Halle Berry and musician Eric Benet announced they were separating. They had been married less than three years.

In 2011, Kiss bassist Gene Simmons married actor Shannon Tweed in Beverly Hills, California after being together for 28 years and having two children.

In 2017, a gunman killed 58 people and wounded hundreds of others at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas. Country singer Jason Aldean was on stage at the time. It was the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

Today’s Birthdays: Actor-singer Julie Andrews is 89. Saxophonist Jerry Martini of Sly and the Family Stone is 81. Jazz bassist Dave Holland is 78. Actor Yvette Freeman (“ER”) is 74. Actor Randy Quaid is 74. Singer Howard Hewett of Shalamar is 69. Drummer Tim O’Reagan of The Jayhawks is 66. Singer Youssou N’Dour is 65. Actor Esai Morales (“NYPD Blue”) is 62. Actor Christopher Titus (“Titus”) is 60. Model-actor Cindy Margolis is 59. Singer-guitarist Kevin Griffin of Better Than Ezra is 56. Actor-comedian Zach Galifianakis is 55. Actor Sherri Saum (“The Fosters”) is 50. Actor Katie Aselton (“Legion,” “The League”) is 46. Actor Sarah Drew (“Grey’s Anatomy” ″Everwood”) is 44. Actor Carly Hughes (“American Housewife”) is 42. Comedian Beck Bennett (“Saturday Night Live”) is 40. Actor Jurnee Smollett (“Underground,” ″Wanda At Large”) is 38. Actor Brie Larson (“Lessons in Chemistry,” “Captain Marvel”) is 35. Singer Jade Bird is 27. Actor Priah Ferguson (“Stranger Things”) is 18. Actor Jack Stanton (“The Mick”) is 16.

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On Sept. 30, 1950, the Grand Ole Opry was first televised by Nashville station WSM. WSM-AM had been broadcasting the Opry on radio since 1925.

In 1955, actor James Dean was killed in the collision of his sports car with another automobile in Cholame, California. He was 24.

In 1960, “The Flintstones” made its debut on ABC.

In 1965, Donovan made his American TV debut on “Shindig!”

In 1967, John Lennon and Paul McCartney appeared on “The David Frost Show” to talk about the virtues of transcendental meditation as taught by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

In 1982, “Cheers,” starring Ted Danson and Shelly Long, made its debut on NBC. It ran until 1993.

In 1984, “Murder, She Wrote,” starring Angela Lansbury, premiered on CBS.

Today’s Birthdays: Actor Angie Dickinson is 93. Singer Cissy Houston is 91. Singer Johnny Mathis is 89. Actor Len Cariou (TV’s “Blue Bloods,” film “The Four Seasons”) is 85. Singer Marilyn McCoo is 81. Actor John Finn (“Cold Case”) is 72. Guitarist John Lombardo (10,000 Maniacs) is 72. Actor Vondie Curtis-Hall (“Chicago Hope, “Daredevil”) is 74. Country singer Deborah Allen is 71. Actor Calvin Levels (“Adventures in Babysitting”) is 70. Jazz singer Patrice Rushen is 70. Actor Barry Williams (“The Brady Bunch”) is 70. Actor Fran Drescher is 67. Country singer Marty Stuart is 66. Actor Crystal Bernard (“Wings”) is 63. Actor Eric Stoltz is 63. Rapper-producer Marley Marl is 62. Country singer Eddie Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry is 61. Singer Trey Anastasio of Phish is 60. Actor Monica Bellucci (“The Passion of the Christ,” ″The Matrix Reloaded”) is 60. Bassist Robby Takac of The Goo Goo Dolls is 60. Actor Lisa Thornhill (“Veronica Mars”) is 58. Actor Andrea Roth (“Rescue Me”) is 57. Actor Amy Landecker (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) is 55. Actor Silas Weir Mitchell (“Grimm”) is 55. Actor Tony Hale (“Veep,” ″Arrested Development”) is 54. Actor Jenna Elfman is 53. Actor Ashley Hamilton is 50. Actor Marion Cotillard (“Public Enemies,” ″La Vie en Rose”) is 49. Actor-musician Christopher Jackson (“Bull,” ″Oz”) is 49. Actor Toni Trucks (“SEAL Team”) is 44. Actor Lacey Chabert (“Mean Girls,” ″Party of Five”) is 42. Actor Kieran Culkin is 41. Rapper T-Pain is 40.

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On Sept. 27, 1954, “The Tonight Show” made its debut on NBC with host Steve Allen.

In 1964, the Beach Boys made their first appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show.”

In 1972, the bodies of singer Rory Storm of Rory Storm and the Hurricanes and his mother were found at her home in Liverpool, England. Storm was 34.

In 1980, the Stray Cats were signed to Arista Records in Britain.

In 1986, bassist Cliff Burton of Metallica was killed when the band’s tour bus skidded off an icy road in Sweden. He was 24.

Also in 1986, The Beatles song “Twist and Shout” re-entered the pop charts after it was featured in the movies “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and “Back to School.” It eventually rose to number 23.

In 1987, the variety show “Dolly,” starring Dolly Parton, premiered on ABC. It was canceled after one season.

In 1998, Phil Hartman’s voice was featured for the last time on “The Simpsons” as Troy McClure. Hartman was killed by his wife in a murder-suicide the previous May.

In 2014, actor George Clooney married lawyer Amal Alamuddin at a palace in Venice.

In 2021, singer R. Kelly was convicted on all nine counts in his sex-trafficking trial in New York. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison the following June.

Today’s Birthdays: Actor Kathleen Nolan is 91. Actor Claude Jarman Jr. (“The Yearling”) is 90. Singer-guitarist Randy Bachman of Bachman-Turner Overdrive is 81. Actor Liz Torres (“Gilmore Girls”) is 77. Actor A Martinez (“LA Law,” ″Santa Barbara”) is 76. Actor Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (“Pearl Harbor”) is 74. Actor-opera singer Anthony Laciura (“Boardwalk Empire”) is 73. Singer-actor-director Shaun Cassidy is 66. Comedian Marc Maron (“Maron”) is 61. Singer-guitarist Stephan Jenkins of Third Eye Blind is 60. Actor Patrick Muldoon (“Melrose Place”) is 56. Singer Mark Calderon of Color Me Badd is 54. Actor Gwyneth Paltrow is 52. Actor Indira Varma (“For Life”) is 51. Singer Brad Arnold of 3 Doors Down is 46. Bassist Grant Brandell of Underoath is 43. Actor Anna Camp (“The Mindy Project,” ″True Blood”) is 42. Rapper Lil’ Wayne is 42. Singer Avril Lavigne is 40. Bluegrass musician Sierra Hull is 33. Actor Sam Lerner (“The Goldbergs”) is 32. Actor Ames McNamara (“The Connors”) is 17.

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