Jon Voight - ©Theda Bara

The name I highlight in this post is that of the American actor and producer Jon Voight, active in political opinions and proud to be a personal friend of the current President of the United States, Donald Trump (1946-).

Jon Voight won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1979 for the film “Coming Home” (1978), for his performance as “Luke Martin”. Other awards include: 4 Golden Globe Awards: Best Actor in a Drama Film in 1979 and 1986; Best Newcomer in 1970; Best Supporting Actor in a TV Series, Miniseries or Television Film in 2014. 1 BAFTA Award: Best Newcomer in 1970.

Despite his illustrious film career and status as a Hollywood legend, Jon Voight does not have a star on the Walk of Fame. The reason is simple: Voight is a Special Ambassador for the United States in Hollywood and, therefore, according to the rules of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPA), his name cannot be nominated for this award. Jon Voight was nominated in 2004 in the Film category, but the official award process was never completed. And, since becoming an MPA Ambassador, he will only receive the star in the future if he resigns from the position or posthumously, in recognition of his work.

Jonathan Vincent Voight was born on December 29, 1938, in Yonkers, New York, United States, and is 87 years old.

Jonathan Voight has been married twice, both marriages ending in divorce. His first wife was American actress Lauri Peters (1943-), from 1962 to 1967; and his second wife was another American, actress and producer Marcheline Bertrand, born Marcia Lynne Bertrand (1950-2007), from 1971 to 1980, with whom he had two American children: actor James Haven Voight (1973-) and actress Angelina Jolie (1975-), who looked very much like her mother when she was young. Voight’s relationship with his daughter, Jolie, has historically been tumultuous, with periods of estrangement and reconciliation.

Haiku: To Love is to Dedicate Yourself - ©Theda Bara

Haiku and Art by ©Theda Bara — 2026

How lucky are those who feel good...
With the love they dedicate
To love is to dedicate yourself!

Meryl Streep - ©Theda Bara

The name I want to highlight in this post is that of today’s birthday girl, who is turning 77. I’m referring to the talented and award-winning American actress Meryl Streep, who has won 3 Oscars: 2 for Best Actress in 1983 for “Sophie’s Choice” (1982), in the role of “Sophie Zawistowski”, and in 2012 for “The Iron Lady” (2011), in the role of “Margaret Thatcher”. 1 for Best Supporting Actress: 1980 for “Kramer vs. Kramer” (1979), in the role of “Joanna Kramer”.

 

In addition to the Oscars, Meryl Streep won 2 BAFTA awards for Best Actress: 1982 and 2012;  one MTV Movie Award for Best Villain in 2015; has also won eight Golden Globe Awards: three for Best Actress in a Drama Film: 1982, 2012, and 2013, and two for Best Supporting Actress in a Film: 1980 and 2003, a Cecil B. DeMille Award: 2017; two for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical: 2007 and 2010, and one for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film: 2004. In addition, she has won two Primetime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film: 1978 and 2004.

Meryl Streep has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located in front of the TCL Chinese Theatre at 7020 Hollywood Boulevard, in the Film category.

Mary Louise “Meryl” Streep was born on June 12, 1949, in Summit, New Jersey, United States.

Meryl Streep was married to American sculptor Donald James Gummer (1946-) for 39 years, from 1978 to 2017. They officially separated in 2017 and finalized their divorce in 2024. They had four children together: American singer-songwriter Henry Wolfe Gummer (1979-), American actress Mary Willa “Mamie” Gummer (1983-), American actress Grace Jane Gummer (1986-), and American actress Louisa Jacobson Gummer (1991-); her current relationship is with actor Martin Hayter Short (1950-), since 2024, but they do not intend to officially marry.

Haiku: Waves of Love - ©Theda Bara

Haiku and Art by ©Theda Bara — 2026

He ran away from me...
Like someone who goes to sea
And returned on a wave, because he never stopped loving me!

Peter Finch - ©Theda Bara Awards

 

The name I highlight in this post is that of the British actor, television presenter, and poet Peter Finch, born in London. He emigrated to Australia at the age of ten and was raised in Sydney, where he worked in Vaudeville theatre and radio before becoming a film actor. Finch enlisted in the Australian Army on June 2, 1941, serving in the Middle East and acting as an anti-aircraft gunner during the bombing of Darwin. But even during his military service, Peter Finch was allowed to work in radio, theatre, and cinema.

 
Peter Finch won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1977 for the film “Network” (1976), playing “Howard Beale”, a television news anchor who suffers a nervous breakdown live on air after being fired due to low ratings. His character becomes a sensationalist “mad prophet”. Peter Finch was the first actor to win a posthumous Academy Award for Best Actor, as he died of a heart attack in January 1977, two months before the 49th Academy Awards Ceremony. He also won five BAFTA Awards: Best British Actor in 1957, 1961, and 1962; Best Actor in a Drama in 1972 and 1978; and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Drama Film in 1977.

 
Peter Finch was nominated for a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1977, but the nomination was shelved after his death.

 
Peter Finch was born on September 28, 1916, in South Kensington, London, United Kingdom, and died on January 14, 1977, at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, United States, at the age of 60.

 

British actor Peter Finch married three times throughout his life and had several extramarital affairs. His first marriage was to the French ballerina and writer of Romanian origin, Tamara Yevsevievna Tchinarova (1919-2017), better known by her pseudonym Tamara Finch, from 1943 to 1959. The couple had a daughter, the British actress Anita Finch (1949-). They divorced in 1959 after Tamara discovered her husband’s affair with the British actress of Indian origin, Vivien Leigh (1913-1967); His second marriage was to South African actress Yolande Turner (1935-), born Yolande Eileen Turnbull, from 1959 to 1965. The couple had two children: British actress Samantha Finch (1961-) and British film editor Charles Finch (1962-), who is CEO of the brand development and investment company Finch + Partners and also editor-in-chief of the magazine A Rabbit’s Foot; On November 9, 1973, in Rome, Finch married his third and last wife, Jamaican singer Mavis “Eletha” Barrett (1956-), known as Eletha Finch, 40 years younger than her husband. She lived with him until she became a widow. The couple had a daughter named Diana (1974-).