Simone Signoret died today – 22 years ago

German actress Simone Signoret was born as Simone Henriette Charlotte Kaminker on March 25, 1921 in Wiesbaden, Germany. She said, “Chains do not hold a marriage together. It is threads, hundreds of tiny threads, which sew people together through the years." [Enough to make a fine garment.]... Ms. Signoret died in 1985 in Auteuil-Anthouillet, France.

Edgar Bergen died today – 29 years ago

U.S. comic and ventriloquist Edgar John Bergen was born on February 16, 1903 in Chicago, Illinois. He had a puppet named Charlie McCarthy. He said, “Hard work never killed anybody, but why take a chance?" [Oh, yeah!]... Mr. Bergen died in 1978 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

James Dean died today – 52 years ago

U.S. actor James Byron Dean was born on February 8, 1931 in Marion, Indiana. He said, “I want to be a Texan 24 hours a day." [Then live in Texas.]... Mr. Dean died in 1955 in Cholame, California.

Madalyn Murray O'Hair died today – 12 years ago

Madalyn Murray O'Hair was born as Madalyn Mays on April 13, 1919 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She said, “I feel that everyone who wants to say anything, do anything, should be able to say anything or do anything, within the limits of not hurting another person." [Sounds like part of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.]... Ms. O’Hair died in 1995 in Austin, Texas.

French novelist Emile Zola was born on April 2, 1840 in Paris, France. He said, “If I cannot overwhelm with my quality, I will overwhelm with my quantity." [Works for some.]... Mr. Zola died in 1902 in Paris, France.

French writer Alphonse Jean-baptiste Karr was born on November 24, 1808 in Paris, France. He said, “Every man has three characters—that which he exhibits, that which he has, and that which he thinks he has." [Sounds right.]... Mr. Karr died in 1890 in Saint-Raphaël, France.

Harpo Marx died today – 43 years ago

U.S. comic actor Harpo Marx was born as Adolph Arthur Marx on November 23, 1888 in New York City, New York. He said, “I was the same kind of father as I was a harpist - I played by ear." [Oh, well.]... Mr. Marx died in 1964 in Los Angeles, California.

U.S. novelist John Rodrigo Dos Passos was born on January 14, 1896 in Chicago, Illinois. He said, “Marxism has not only failed to promote human freedom, it has failed to produce food." [It’s built on faulty premises?]... Mr. Dos Passos died in 1970 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau was born as Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau on October 18, 1919 in Montreal, Quebec. He said, “Canada is a country whose main exports are hockey players and cold fronts. Our main imports are baseball players and acid rain." [Oh, there must be more.]... Mr. Trudeau died in 2000 in Montreal, Quebec.

U.S. tennis player Althea Gibson was born on August 25, 1927 in Silver, South Carolina. He said, “No matter what accomplishments you make, somebody helped you." [Amen.]... Ms. Gibson died in 2003 in East Orange, New Jersey.

Filmmaker Elia Kazan was born on September 7, 1909 in Istanbul, Ottoman Sultanate (now Istanbul, Turkey). He said, “I truly believe that all power corrupts. Such is probably the thinking behind every political film ever made in Hollywood." [View ‘em.]... Mr. Kazan died in 2003 in Manhattan, New York City, New York.

Louis Pasteur died today – 112 years ago

French scientist Louis Pasteur was born on December 27, 1822 in Dole, Jura, France. He said, “Do not let yourself be tainted with a barren skepticism." [Keep it well watered and growing.]... Mr. Pasteur died in 1895 in Marnes-la-Coquette, France.

Herman Melville died today – 116 years ago

U.S. writer Herman Melville was born on August 1, 1819 in New York City, New York. He said, “It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation." [Welllll,... OK.]... Mr. Melville died in 1891 in New York City, New York.