On This Day

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Births

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1940 – George A. Romero

George Andrew Romero was an American-Canadian filmmaker, writer and editor, best known for his series of gruesome and satirical horror films about an imagined zombie apocalypse, beginning with Night of the Living Dead (1968), which is often considered a progenitor of the fictional zombie of modern culture. Other films in the series include Dawn of the Dead (1978) and Day of the Dead (1985). Aside from the Dead series, his works include The Crazies (1973), Martin (1978), Creepshow (1982), Monkey Shines (1988), The Dark Half (1993) and Bruiser (2000). He also created and executive-produced the television series Tales from the Darkside (1983–1988).

Romero is often noted as an influential pioneer of the horror film genre, and has been called an “icon” and the “Father of the Zombie Film”.

Died: 16 July 2017

Aged 77

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1953 – Kitaro

Kitaro, born Masanori Takahashi, is a Japanese recording artist, composer, record producer and arranger noted for his electronic-instrumental music, and is often associated and regarded as one of the most prominent musical acts of New-age music. He is the winner of a Grammy Award for Best New Age Album (Thinking of You (1999); with record 16 nominations in the same category) and a Golden Globe Award for the Heaven & Earth (1993) original score.

Age 65

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1960 – Tim Booth

Timothy John “Tim” Booth is an English singer, dancer and actor best known as the lead singer from the band James.

Age 58

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1962 – John Gordon Sinclair

John Gordon Sinclair is a Scottish actor most notable for playing Gregory in Gregory’s Girl. He was born as Gordon John but took the stage name John Gordon Sinclair because Equity already had a Gordon John registered.

Age 56

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1975 – Natalie Imbruglia

Natalie Jane Imbruglia is an Australian singer-songwriter, model and actress. In the early 1990s, she played Beth Brennan in the Australian soap opera Neighbours. Three years after leaving the programme, she began a singing career with her successful hit cover of Ednaswap’s song, “Torn”.

Her subsequent album, Left of the Middle (1997), sold 7 million copies worldwide. Further releases include White Lilies Island (2001), Counting Down the Days (2005), a hits compilation, Glorious: The Singles 97–07 (2007), Come To Life (2009), and a cover album of songs originally performed by male artists, Male (2015). Since 1997, Imbruglia has sold 10 million records worldwide, and received several accolades, including eight ARIA Awards, two Brit Awards, one Billboard Music Award, and three Grammy nominations.

In addition to her singing career, Imbruglia has appeared in several films, including 2003 film Johnny English and an Australian indie film, Closed for Winter (2009). She has also modeled for several brands, such as L’Oreal, Gap, and Kailis.

Since 2005, Imbruglia has been a spokesperson of Virgin Unite and campaigns to raise awareness of obstetric fistula.

Age 43

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Deaths

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1984 – Paul Gardiner

Born: 01 May 1958

Paul Mark Gardiner was a British musician who played bass guitar with Gary Numan and Tubeway Army, as well as creating material under his own name.

Died Aged 25

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On This Day