MILESTONES: April 30, birthdays for Kirsten Dunst, Gal Gadot, Willie Nelson

April 30, 2019 Brooklyn Eagle

Kirsten Dunst. Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

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NOTABLE PEOPLE born on this day include actress Dianna Agron, who was born in 1986; director Jane Campion, who was born in 1954; actress Kirsten Dunst, who was born in 1982; former Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx, who was born in 1971; actress Gal Gadot, who was born in 1985; actor Johnny Galecki, who was born in 1975; 22nd Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper, who was born in 1959; actor Sam Heughan, who was born in 1980; actor Perry King, who was born in 1948; actress Cloris Leachman, who was born in 1926; actor Kunal Nayyar, who was born in 1981; singer and actor Willie Nelson, who was born in 1933; actor Adrian Pasdar, who was born in 1965; basketball coach and Hall of Fame player Isiah Thomas, who was born in 1961; and writer and actor Burt Young, who was born in 1940.

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BUGS BUNNY DEBUTED ON THIS DAY IN 1938. Warner Bros.’ famous rabbit first appeared on screen in the theatrical short “Porky’s Hare Hunt,” directed by Ben “Bugs” Hardaway and released on this date. Chuck Jones and Tex Avery further developed him into the character we know now — in such cartoons as “A Wild Hare,” in which Bugs asks, “What’s up, Doc?” for the first time and first kisses perennial foe Elmer Fudd. The rabbit’s noisy carrot munching was based on Clark Gable’s carrot chewing in the film “It Happened One Night.”

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TODAY IS NATIONAL ANIMAL ADVOCACY DAY. The ASPCA’s Government Relations Department works closely with lawmakers and citizen advocates to secure the strongest possible protections for animals through the passage of humane legislation and regulations. We encourage all animal advocates to get involved in the legislative process and make a real difference for the animals in their community. Help the ASPCA enact meaningful protections for animals at the federal, state and local level by celebrating National Animal Advocacy Day and being an effective voice for animals in the lawmaking process.

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JOHN CROWE RANSOM WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1888. The influential and award-winning poet, professor and critic was part of the 1920-30s “New Criticism” movement, which gained its name from his book “The New Criticism,” published in 1941. He founded and edited The Kenyon Review and his “Selected Poems” received the National Book Award. Ransom died in 1974 in Ohio.

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TODAY IS INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY. In November 2011, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) officially designated Apr 30 as International Jazz Day in order to highlight jazz and its diplomatic role of uniting people in all corners of the globe. This special day brings together communities, schools, artists, historians, academics and jazz enthusiasts worldwide to celebrate and learn about jazz and its roots, future and impact; raise awareness of the need for intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding; and reinforce international cooperation and communication. UNESCO and United Nations missions, US embassies and government outposts around the world hosted special events for the first annual International Jazz Day on Apr. 30, 2012. More than 1 billion people around the world were reached through 2013 International Jazz Day programs and media coverage.

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Special thanks to “Chase’s Calendar of Events” and Brooklyn Public Library.

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“If you can be content right now, then you’ll always be content, because it’s always right now.” — Willie Nelson, who was born on this day in 1933