Haiku: Wrinkles - ©Theda Bara

Haiku and Art by ©Theda Bara — 2026

 Enjoy your youth
Because everything passes so quickly
And when old age arrives, respect your wrinkles!

Willem Dafoe - ©Theda Bara

The name I want to highlight in this post is that of the excellent American actor Willem Dafoe. Known for his prolific career, the actor became famous for the variety of characters he plays, possessing the ideal appearance to portray everything from hero antagonists to demented individuals, corrupt police officers, and traumatized or troubled people.

Despite being very talented, awards are not Willem Dafoe’s strong suit. He received four Oscar and Golden Globe nominations, but never won.

Dafoe has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at 6271 Hollywood Boulevard, in the film category.

William James “Willem” Dafoe was born on July 22, 1955, in Appleton, Wisconsin, United States, and is 70 years old.

Willem Dafoe had a long 27-year relationship with the American director of experimental theater, dance, and media, Elizabeth LeCompte (1944-), a founding member of The Wooster Group, but they never married. The couple has one son, actor Jack Frank Dafoe (1982-). Dafoe is currently married to Italian director and actress Giada Colagrande (1975-), a relationship that began in 2005. A curious detail: Dafoe and Giada were having lunch together when he suddenly asked, “Do you want to get married tomorrow?”. The next day, they held a small ceremony with only two friends as witnesses and were married in the presence of a notary and a priest.

Haiku: Beautiful and Brief Life - ©Theda Bara

Haiku and Art by ©Theda Bara — 2026

 I wish you eternal kisses and words
In this beautiful and brief life
So full of empty mouths!

Valerie Perrine - ©Theda Bara

The name I highlight in this post is that of the American actress and model Valerie Perrine. She became known for her role as “Miss Eve Teschmacher” in “Superman” (1978); and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress in 1975 (but did not win) for “Lenny” (1974), a biographical character based on “Honey Bruce”, born Harriet Jolliff (1927-2005), a former Las Vegas stripper and wife of the controversial comedian Lenny Bruce, born Leonard Alfred Schneider (1925-1966).

The only significant award of her career was the BAFTA for Best New Actress in 1976, for “Lenny”.

The actress passed away without having a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Valerie Ritchie Perrine was born on September 3, 1943, in Galveston, Texas, United States, and died on March 23, 2026, in Beverly Hills, California, United States, at the age of 82, after living with Parkinson’s disease for years.

Valerie Perrine never married and had no children. In 1969, the actress became engaged to collector Bill Haarman (1919-1969), but he tragically died after a firearm accident. The importer and gun collector was killed when a pistol kept in his belt fell to the floor and discharged; the bullet ricocheted off a door and struck his heart. This event occurred a month before their wedding date.

Haiku: Saving Verses - ©Theda Bara

Haiku and Art by ©Theda Bara — 2026

 When something suffocates our soul
And our mouths refuse to speak
We, poets, have paper and pen to save us!

George Clooney - ©Theda Bara

The name I highlight in this post is that of the Franco-American actor, producer, screenwriter, film and television director, businessman, and philanthropist George Clooney.

Throughout his acclaimed Hollywood career, George Clooney has amassed two Oscars: Best Supporting Actor in 2006 for the film “Syriana” (2005), for his role as “Bob Barmes”, and the Best Picture award (as producer) in 2013 for “Argo” (2012); four Golden Globe Awards, including a Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2015; a BAFTA; an MTV Movie Award; and an honorary Emmy. He stands out in film history for having been nominated in six different categories by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

George Clooney does not have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Although he has already been nominated and approved to receive the honor, the actor has not yet scheduled a date with the event organizers for the necessary public unveiling ceremony, which obviously involves a considerable amount of money to be spent by the honoree for the maintenance of the star on the famous Los Angeles sidewalk.

George Timothy Clooney was born on May 6, 1961, in Lexington, Kentucky, United States, and is 65 years old.

Clooney has had some casual relationships, but only two marriages: his first marriage ended in divorce with American actress Talia Balsam (1959-), from 1989 to 1993; and he is currently married to Anglo-Lebanese lawyer and international law specialist Amal Ramzi Junia Alamuddin Clooney (1976-), since 2014. The couple has twin children, Alexander and Ella (both 9 years old), born in June 2017.

Haiku: Irresistible - ©Theda Bara

Haiku and Art by ©Theda Bara — 2026

 Don’t be without light
Don’t interrupt the flow
Be irresistible!

Haiku: The Universe is Sweet - ©Theda Bara

Haiku and Art by ©Theda Bara — 2026

   The universe is sweet, say scientists!
White sugar, refined, granulated, aspartame, erythulose
Honey, agave, stevia, and brown sugar... they all come from space.

 

An international team of astronomers has detected, for the first time in interstellar space, a sugar molecule identical to our own. It is erythulose, a four-carbon sugar found in a dense cloud of gas and dust in the center of the Milky Way, about 27,000 light-years from Earth. The discovery was published in the scientific journal Nature Astronomy on July 13, 2026.

Sam Neill - ©Theda Bara

The name I am highlighting in this post is that of New Zealand actor Sam Neill, known worldwide for playing paleontologist “Alan Grant” in the “Jurassic Park” saga. He passed away on July 13, 2026, at the age of 78, in Sydney, Australia. His death was announced by his family and occurred suddenly; he had been battling lymphoma, which was diagnosed in 2022.

Sam Neill could have played secret agent “James Bond” in one of the films in 1986, but he turned down the opportunity. His agent pressured him to audition, but he refused for fear of being typecast and rejected by fans of the “007” franchise.

Major awards were not a part of Sam Neill’s career; although he acted in many films, his leading roles seem to have gone unnoticed by film critics.

Sam Neill never received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Despite his extensive career, the actor preferred a private life.

Nigel John Dermot Neill, better known as Sam Neill, was born on September 14, 1947, in Omagh, Northern Ireland (UK), and passed away (as previously mentioned) on July 13, 2026, at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Darlinghurst, Sydney, Australia.

Sam Neill was married twice. His first marriage was to New Zealand actress Lisa Harrow (1943-), with whom he lived from 1981 to 1989. He divorced her to marry the renowned Japanese makeup artist and stylist Noriko Watanabe (1965-) in the same year he separated. They remained together until their divorce in 2017. The actor had four children and eight grandchildren. His eldest son, Andrew Neill (1969-), had been given up for adoption and reunited with his parents after 25 years. He also had Tim Neill (1983-) with Lisa Harrow and Elena Neill (1991-) with Noriko Watanabe, in addition to raising Maiko Spencer (1982-), his stepdaughter from his marriage to Noriko.

Henry Fonda - ©Theda Bara

The name I want to highlight in this post is that of the American actor Henry Fonda. He is the patriarch of a family of actors, including his children: Jane Seymour Fonda (1937-) and Peter Henry Fonda (1940-2019), and his granddaughter, Bridget Jane Fonda (1964-).

Henry Fonda was one of Hollywood’s most acclaimed actors, winner of the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1982 for “On Golden Pond” (1981), in the role of “Norman Thayer Jr.”, and had already received an honorary Oscar in 1980. He also won the BAFTA for Best Foreign Actor in 1958 and two Golden Globe Awards: the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1980 and the Best Actor Award in 1982.

Henry Fonda has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at 1601 Vine Street, in the Film category.

Henry Jaynes Fonda was born on May 16, 1905, in Grand Island, Nebraska, United States, and died on August 12, 1982, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, United States, at the age of 77.

Henry Fonda married five times throughout his life. His wives were American actress Margaret Brooke Sullavan (1909-1960), from 1931 to 1933; Canadian socialite Frances Ford Seymour Fonda (1908-1950), from 1936 to 1950, after whom he was widowed; American socialite Susan Blanchard Jacobson (1928-), from 1950 to 1956; and Italian baroness Afdera Franchetti (1931-2025), from 1957 to 1961; and the American actress Shirlee Adams (1920-2007), from 1965 to 1982. He had three children: Jane and Peter (with Frances) and Amy Fishman (1953-), adopted with Susan.

Haiku: Rebellious River - ©Theda Bara

Haiku and Art by ©Theda Bara — 2026

A rebellious river
A brave young man submerges
Sound of water, fear, commotion, and relief.

Sissy Spacek - ©Theda Bara

The name I want to highlight in this post is Sissy Spacek, an American actress and singer. She has received numerous awards throughout her career, including the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1981, at the 53rd Academy Awards, for her performance as singer “Loretta Lynn”, in the film “The Miner’s Daughter” (1980).

Sissy Spacek also won three Golden Globe Awards: Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical in 1981 and 1987; and Best Actress in a Drama Film in 2002.

In 2011, Sissy Spacek was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at 6834 Hollywood Boulevard, across from the El Capitan Theatre.

Mary Elizabeth Spacek was born on Christmas Day, December 25, 1949, in Quitman, Texas, United States, and is 76 years old.

Sissy Spacek is a rarity in the art world, having been married only once, to renowned art director and set designer Jack Fisk (1945-). The couple has been together for over 50 years. Wedding date: April 12, 1974. Sissy and Jack have two American daughters: art director and set designer Madison Fisk (1988-) and Elizabeth Schuyler Fisk (1982-), who, like her mother, is also an actress and singer.

Haiku: 4th of July [2026] - ©Theda Bara

Haiku and Art by ©Theda Bara — 2026

 Fireworks in the sky
Colors shine in the darkness
Summer party in America!

Sally Field - ©Theda Bara

The name I want to highlight in this post is that of the excellent American actress, producer, director, screenwriter, and singer Sally Field, who won two Academy Awards for Best Actress in 1980 and 1985 for the films “Norma Rae” (1979) as the lead role and “Places in the Heart” (1984) as “Edna Spalding”, which also earned her two Golden Globe Awards for Best Actress in a Drama Film in the same years.

Sally Field, in addition to two Oscars and two Golden Globes, also received two Primetime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series in 2001 and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2007.

Sally Field acted in popular films such as: “Mrs. Doubtfire” (1993), playing “Miranda Hillarde”, and “Forrest Gump” (1994), playing “Mrs. Gump”, the mother of “Forrest”, played by then-child actor Michael Conner Humphreys (1985-) and Tom Hanks (1956-).

Sally Field received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on May 5, 2014. The star, number 2,524, is located in front of the Hollywood Wax Museum at 6767 Hollywood Boulevard, in recognition of her contribution to the film industry.

Sally Margaret Field was born on November 6, 1946, in Pasadena, California, United States, and is 79 years old.

Sally Field was married twice and had a long relationship with actor Burton Leon Reynolds, Jr., better known as Burt Reynolds (1936-2018). Her first marriage was to actor Steven Craig (1948-1990) from 1968 to 1975. She married her first husband at age 21. They met in their teens and had two sons: American novelist Peter Craig (1969-), known for co-writing films such as: “The Town” (2010), “The Batman” (2022), and “Top Gun: Maverick” (2022), and American actor and film director Eli Craig (1972-). Her second marriage was to film producer Alan Greisman (1947-) from 1984 to 1994. The couple has one son, American film producer Samuel Greisman (1987-).

Haiku: High School - ©Theda Bara

Haiku and Art by ©Theda Bara — 2026

From my High School days
I fondly remember so many people
Whom I will never forget, but who have been lost over time.

Dustin Hoffman - ©Theda Bara

The name I highlight in this post is that of the excellent American actor of Jewish descent, Dustin Hoffman.

Throughout his career, Dustin Hoffman has received numerous awards, including the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1980 for “Kramer vs. Kramer” (1979), for the role of “Ted Kramer”; and in 1989 for “Rain Man” (1988), for the role of “Raymond Babbitt”. He also received 6 Golden Globe Awards: Best Newcomer in 1968; Best Actor in a Drama Film in 1980 and 1989; Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical in 1983; Best Actor in a Miniseries or Television Film in 1986; and the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1997. Two Primetime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Television Film in 1986 and an International Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in 2016. He also won: three BAFTA Awards: Best Newcomer in 1969; Best Actor in 1970 and 1984. A Golden Lion: Honorary Award in 1996. An MTV Movie Award: Best Comedic Performance in 2005.

Dustin Hoffman is another great actor who doesn’t have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame because he didn’t approve his nomination, a necessary process since acceptance by the honoree is required, as well as payment of the star’s maintenance fees, something Hoffman claims to this day is one of Hollywood’s most stupid wastes of money.

Dustin Lee Hoffman was born on August 8, 1937, in Los Angeles, California, United States, and is 88 years old.

Dustin Hoffman has only been married twice. His first wife was American actress Anne Byrne Kronenfeld, known as Anne Byrne (1943-), from 1969 to 1980, with whom he had two daughters: Karina Hoffman-Birkhead (1966-), who, unlike the rest of the family and despite being very beautiful, has always been averse to the spotlight, and actress Jenna Byrne (1970-). In the same year of their separation, 1980, Dustin married again, this time to American businesswoman Lisa Hoffman, with whom he had four children: American actor Jacob Edward “Jake” Hoffman (1981-); American actress Rebecca Hoffman (1983-); American actress Alexandra Hoffman (1987-); and the youngest, American actor Max Hoffman (1984-). They remain together to this day, and their marriage is known as one of the longest-lasting and happiest unions in Hollywood.

Haiku: Flavors and Moments - ©Theda Bara

Haiku and Art by ©Theda Bara — 2026

I love the taste of cherries
The scent of jasmine
And the love I feel when my son looks at me!

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.