Happy Birthday to "Heroes" actress Hayden Panettiere (1989), French singer Alizee (1984), The Prodigy singer Liam Howlett (1971), System of a Down singer Serj Tankian (1967),

Happy Birthday to tennis pro Mary Pierce (1975), character and voice actor Regina King (1971), actor Chad Lowe (1968), actor/director Mario Van Peebles (1957), British actor Julian Sands (1958),

This isn't to bash rappers, nor is it to say that these artists aren't allowed to pursue different paths in Hollywood. With so many prominent rappers acquiring roles

Happy Birthday to "Heroes" actress Hayden Panettiere (1989), French singer Alizee (1984), The Prodigy singer Liam Howlett (1971), System of a Down singer Serj Tankian (1967), "The Matrix" actress Carrie-Anne Moss (1967),

Happy Birthday to tennis pro Mary Pierce (1975), character and voice actor Regina King (1971), actor Chad Lowe (1968), actor/director Mario Van Peebles (1957), British actor Julian Sands (1958), comedic stage and screen star Andrea Martin (1947), Spanish singer/actress Charo (1942),

Happy Birthday to "Bring It On: All Or Nothing" actress Hayden Panettiere (1989), French singer Alizee (1984), The Prodigy singer Liam Howlett (1971), System of a Down singer Serj Tankian (1967), "The Matrix" actress Carrie-Anne Moss (1967), "Sex and the City" star Kim Cattrall (1956), The Clash singer Joe Strummer (1952; d. 2002), Australian film director Peter Weir (1944), singer Jackie DeShannon (1944), actor Clarence Williams III (1939), guitarist James Burton (1939), country singer Kenny Rogers (1938), basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain (1936; d. 1999), actor Melvin Van Peebles (1932), actor Jack Weston (1924; d. 1996), and bandleader William "Count" Basie (1904; d. 1984).

Happy Birthday to tennis pro Mary Pierce (1975), character and voice actor Regina King (1971), actor Chad Lowe (1968), actor/director Mario Van Peebles (1957), British actor Julian Sands (1958), comedic stage and screen star Andrea Martin (1947), Spanish singer/actress Charo (1942), civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. (1929; d. 1968), TV Lois Lane Phyllis Coates (1927), actor Lloyd Bridges (1913), and jazz drummer Gene Krupa (1909; d. 1973).

Mario Van Peebles has shattered Tupac Shakur's gangster image by suggesting the late rapper was ashamed of his love for William Shakespeare because he felt it might hurt his tough guy reputation.