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Powerful and highly respected American actor Jason Nelson Robards, Jr. was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Hope Maxine (Glanville) and stage and film star Jason Robards Sr. He had Swedish, English, Welsh, German, and Irish ancestry. Robards was raised mostly in Los Angeles. A star athlete at Hollywood High School, he served in the U.S. Navy in World War II, where he saw combat as a radioman (though he is not listed in official rolls of Navy Cross winners, despite the claims he and his public relations personnel made. Neither was he at Pearl Harbor during the Dec. 7, 1941 attack, his ship being at sea at the time.) Returning to civilian life, he attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and struggled as a small-part actor in local New York theatre, TV and radio before shooting to fame on the New York stage in Eugene O'Neill's "The Iceman Cometh" as Hickey. He followed that with another masterful O'Neill portrayal, as the alcoholic Jamie Tyrone in "Long Day's Journey Into Night" on Broadway. He entered feature films in The Journey (1959) and rose rapidly to even greater fame as a film star. Robards won consecutive Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor for All the President's Men (1976) and Julia (1977), in each case playing real-life people. He continued to work on the stage, winning continued acclaim in such O'Neill works as "Moon For the Misbegotten" and "Hughie." Robards died of lung cancer in 2000.

After being discharged from the U.S. Navy after World War II, Ed Warren was an itinerant house and sign painter traveling around New England. However, with his wife Lorraine Warren, née Lorraine Moran, he became known as a demonologist employed in investigating reports of haunted houses. They attained national renown in 1975 when they wrote up their reports of their investigation of the George Lutz house in Amityville, Long Island, New York. The Lutz family moved into the house, which had been the site of the murder of five members of the DeFeo family the previous year. The Lutz family moved out after 28 days, claiming that they had been chased out by ghosts and other demons. Although some felt that the story was a hoax, the Warrens swore that, after their investigation, the house was haunted. The Warrens were the founders of the New England Society for Psychic Research.

Phineas Taylor Barnum (July 5, 1810 - April 7, 1891) was an American showman, businessman, and politician, remembered for promoting celebrated hoaxes and founding the Barnum & Bailey Circus (1871-2017) with James Anthony Bailey. He was also an author, publisher, and philanthropist, though he said of himself: "I am a showman by profession ... and all the gilding shall make nothing else of me". According to his critics, his personal aim was "to put money in his own coffers." He is widely credited with coining the adage "There's a sucker born every minute", although no evidence has been collected of him saying this.

Marvin Laird was born on 26 October 1939 in Kansas City, Kansas. He was a composer, known for The Break-Up (2006), Hello, Dolly! (1969) and That's Life (1968). He was married to Ellen Weston and Joel Paley. He died on 2 December 2024 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA.

Composer, author and oboist, educated at Juilliard (BS). He was first oboist for the Dallas Symphony and the New York Little Orchestra between 1948 and 1956. Then he joined Revue Studios in California, lasting until 1960, thereafter working freelance. Joining ASCAP in 1956, his chief musical collaborators included Johnny Mercer and Jack Brooks.

Freda Betsky was born on 19 September 1914 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. She was an actress. She died on 30 November 1986 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA.

Tony Hsieh was born on 12 December 1973 in Illinois, USA. He was a producer and actor, known for Crisis (2021), Smiley Face Killers (2020) and Viena and the Fantomes (2020). He died on 27 November 2020 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA.

Lawrence Fletcher was born on 5 March 1902 in Carlton, Ohio, USA. He was an actor, known for The Motorola Television Hour (1953), The Ford Theatre Hour (1948) and Lux Video Theatre (1950). He died on 11 February 1970 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA.

Walter Yetnikoff was born on 11 August 1933 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. He was a producer, known for Ruthless People (1986), Michael Jackson's Journey from Motown to Off the Wall (2016) and Bad 25 (2012). He was married to Lynda Kady, June May Horowitz and Cynthia Slamar. He died on 9 August 2021 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA.

John Randolph Bray was born on 25 August 1879 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. He was a producer and director, known for Let's Talk Turkey (1936), Jewel of Asia (1937) and Wildman's Land (1937). He was married to Margaret Bray. He died on 10 October 1978 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA.

Fanny Crosby was born on 24 March 1820 in Brewster, New York, USA. She was married to Alexander van Alstyne, Jr.. She died on 12 February 1915 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA.

Will Archie was born on 27 March 1884 in New York City, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for The Fairy and the Waif (1915), Wildfire (1925) and The Lilliputians' Courtship (1915). He died on 12 February 1967 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA.

Polly Thompson was born in 1885 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. She died on 20 March 1960 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA.

Ray J. Mauer was born on 2 January 1917 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. He was a writer. He died on 15 February 2006 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA.

Ellen Anton was born in 1950 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA. Ellen is known for All My Children (1970), Another World (1964) and As the World Turns (1956). Ellen died on 18 October 2023 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA.

Victor Kennard was born on 14 October 1886 in Hackensack, New Jersey, USA. He was an actor, known for The Soul of Buddha (1918), The Wasp (1918) and Journey's End (1918). He was married to Barbara. He died on 14 August 1953 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA.

Dale Frashuer was born on 22 March 1939 in Brownsville, West Virginia, USA. Dale was a composer, known for Remember the Titans (2000), The Internship (2013) and The Way Back (2020). Dale was married to Mary Kordesta. Dale died on 24 November 1998 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA.

Kelly Bigelow Becerra was born on 7 April 1975 in Jonesville, Michigan, USA. Kelly Bigelow was a director and writer, known for Agatha (2022). Kelly Bigelow was married to Roland Becerra. Kelly Bigelow died on 8 July 2024 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA.

Robert Brilmayer was born on 5 July 1900 in Milford, Ohio, USA. Robert was a writer, known for Pot o' Gold (1941). Robert died on 22 August 1978 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA.

Angel Echevarria was born on 25 May 1971 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA. He died on 7 February 2020 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA.

Sam Friedman was born on 5 July 1927 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA. Sam was a producer, known for Oedipus Rex (1957). Sam was married to Judith Freedman. Sam died on 4 November 2012 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA.

Bart Swift was born on 1 February 1924 in Stamford, Connecticut, USA. Bart is known for The Heavyweight Championship of the World: Cassius Clay versus Sonny Liston (1964). Bart died on 14 June 2007 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA.

Everett Raymond Kinstler was born on 5 August 1926 in New York City, New York, USA. He was married to Lea Nation and Peggy. He died on 26 May 2019 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA.

Stella Browne was born on 17 January 1904 in Hackney, London, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Not So Quiet on the Western Front (1930). She died on 27 January 1988 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA.

Matt O'Brien was born on 16 November 1893 in New York, USA. He is known for Arbor Day (1936) and Second Childhood (1936). He died on 19 October 1968 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA.