MILESTONES: February 19 birthdays for Amy Tan, Smokey Robinson, Benicio del Toro

February 19, 2021 Brooklyn Eagle History

Amy Tan. Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP

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NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Smokey Robinson, who was born in 1940; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath), who was born in 1948; “The Joy Luck Club” author Amy Tan, who was born in 1952; “The Newsroom” star Jeff Daniels, who was born in 1955; “Dynasty” star Kathleen Beller, who was born in 1956; former World Series MVP Dave Stewart, who was born in 1957; “Bridget Jones’ Diary” author Helen Fielding, who was born in 1958; NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who was born in 1959; “Kiss From a Rose” singer Seal, who was born in 1963; Kansas City Chiefs co-owner Clark Hunt, who was born in 1965; Oscar-winning actor Benicio del Toro, who was born in 1967; and “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” author Jeff Kinney, who was born in 1971.

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A STAR IS BORN: Nicolaus Copernicus was born on this day in 1473. The Polish astronomer and priest revolutionized scientific thought with what came to be called the Copernican theory, which put the sun instead of the earth at the center of our planetary system. He died in East Prussia in 1543.

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A PERSON OF NOTE: Saul Chaplin was born on this day in 1912. The Brooklyn native attended New York University School of Commerce and played in dance bands in the 1930s. He made his mark in Hollywood as a composer, arranger and producer for such films as “Cover Girl” (1944), “On the Town” (1949), “An American in Paris” (1951), “Kiss Me Kate” (1953), “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” (1954), “West Side Story” (1961) and “The Sound of Music” (1965), winning three Academy Awards. He died in Los Angeles in 1997.

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

Quotable

“We regard it as a certainty that the earth, enclosed between poles, is bounded by a spherical surface.”

— astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, who was born on this day in 1473