Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in History for Aug. 24: On this date: In 79, Mount Vesuvius erupted and buried the Italian cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, killing 20,000 people.

Today in Music History for Aug. 24: In 1841, cellist Henri Billet, who may well have been the first Russian musician to visit Canada, appeared at the Theatre royal in Quebec City.

Celebrity birthdays for Aug. 23: Actress Vera Miles is 96. Actress Barbara Eden is 94. Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Sonny Jurgensen is 91. Actor Richard Sanders ("WKRP In Cincinnati") is 85. Ballet dancer Patricia McBride is 83.

Today in Music History for Aug. 23: In 1912, singer-dancer-director Gene Kelly was born in Pittsburgh. He first gained fame in 1941 in the Broadway musical "Pal Joey." The following year he starred in the film "For Me and My Gal" with Judy Garland.

Today in History for Aug. 23: On this date: In 1305, Scottish leader William Wallace was hung, drawn and quartered in London for treason. Nearly 700 years later, his story was the subject of the Oscar-winning movie "Braveheart," starring Mel Gibson.

Celebrity Birthdays for Aug. 27: Author Lady Antonia Fraser is 93. Actor Tommy Sands is 88. Phil Shulman, saxophonist with Gentle Giant is 88. Actress Tuesday Weld is 82. Actor G.W. Bailey ("MASH," ''The Closer") is 81.

Celebrity birthdays for Aug. 24: Composer-musician Mason Williams is 87. Bass guitarist David Freiberg is 87. Singer Marshall Thompson of The Chi-Lites is 84. WWE promoter Vince McMahon is 80. Actress Ann Archer is 78.

Celebrity Birthdays for Aug. 30: Billionaire investor Warren Buffett is 95. Actress Elizabeth Ashley is 86. Actor-turned-politician Ben Jones ("The Dukes of Hazzard") is 84. Cartoonist Robert Crumb is 82.

Celebrity Birthdays for Aug. 29: Actor Elliott Gould is 87. Singer-songwriter Tom Northcott is 82. Chris Copping, bass guitarist and organist with Procul Harum, is 80. Actress Deborah Van Valkenburgh ("Too Close For Comfort") is 73.

Celebrity Birthdays for Aug. 26: Singer Vic Dana is 83. Musician Moe Tucker (The Velvet Underground) is 81. Singer Valerie Simpson of Ashford and Simpson is 79. Singer Bob Cowsill of The Cowsills is 76. Broadcast journalist Bill Whitaker is 74.