We here at SuperHeroHype would like to wish a Happy Birthday to a number of folks in the entertainment industry that will be celebrating in the coming days. Featured this week are the birthdays of actors, actresses, writers, and directors all known for dabbling in the realm of comic books, superheroes, or other genre fare.
Among those celebrating their birthdays this week are Malekith and “Doctor Who” star Christopher Eccleston; Avengers: Age of Ultron ‘s Scarlet Witch, Elizabeth Olsen; “Transformers” franchise director Michael Bay; The Dark Knight Rises and upcoming Sandman star Joseph Gordon-Levitt; the Bruce Wayne of FOX’s “Gotham,” David Mazouz; and many more!
Check out the slideshow below to see the list of other notable celebrity birthdays this week and sound off below if you’re celebrating!
Hit Full Screen to read each entry!
February 16-22 Birthdays
LeVar Burton (58) - February 16, 1957
Primarily known for starring as Geordi La Forge in “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” Burton is also known for playing the role of Kunta Kinte in the 1977 TV mini-series “Roots” and for hosting the children's TV show “Reading Rainbow.” He also provided the voice for War Machine in “The Super Hero Squad Show” animated series and Black Lightning in "Batman/Superman: Public Enemies."
(Photo Credit: Guillermo Proano/WENN.com)
Christopher Eccleston (51) - February 16, 1964
Eccleston most recently appeared as the villain Malekith in Thor: The Dark World but has appeared as Destro in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, the invisible powered Claude in “Heroes,” and the title role in “Doctor Who” for the 2005 relaunch.
(Photo Credit: WENN.com)
Warren Ellis (47) – February 16, 1968
A comic book writer from Essex, England, Ellis has penned a number of classic comics including “Astonishing X-Men,” “Ultimate Fantastic Four,” “Thunderbolts,” “Transmetropolitan,” “Hellblazer,” “Fell,” “Planetary,” “The Authority,” “Global Frequency,” “FreakAngels,” and “Iron Man,” his story for which was used as the building blocks for 2013's Iron Man 3.
(Photo Credit: WENN.com)
Elizabeth Olsen (26) - February 16, 1989
The younger sister of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Elizabeth Olsen has had quickly growing career in a short span ranging from 2011's Martha Marcy May Marlene to Godzilla. She appeared in a cameo as Wanda Maximoff aka Scarlett Witch in Captain America: The Winter Soldier and will make her full debut in Avengers: Age of Ultron this summer.
(Photo Credit: WENN.com)
Rene Russo (61) - February 17, 1954
Though known by many as Frigga in Marvel Studio's “Thor” films, Russo worked as a model in the '70s and '80s before transitioning to acting where she appeared in Lethal Weapon 3 and 4, The Thomas Crown Affair, and Get Shorty.
(Photo Credit: FayesVision/WENN.com)
Michael Bay (50) - February 17, 1965
Getting his start directing music videos, Bay is most known for both Bad Boys films, Armageddon, and all four “Transformers” films. He's also produced the remakes of Friday the 13th, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
(Photo Credit: Brian To/WENN.com)
Dominic Purcell (45) - February 17, 1970
Purcell has had extensive career in television, most known for starring in “Prison Break,” but he also recently appeared as Mick Rory/Heat Wave in “The Flash” and previously played Dracula in Blade: Trinity.
(Photo Credit: WENN.com)
Joseph Gordon-Levitt (34) - February 17, 1981
Starting his career in the late '80s, Joseph Gordon-Levitt has appeared in a number of notable shows and films including “Dark Shadows,” “3rd Rock from the Sun,” Angels in the Outfield, and Halloween H20. He's also appeared as Cobra Commander in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, John “Robin” Blake in The Dark Knight Rises, and Johnny in Sin City: A Dame to Kill For.
(Photo Credit: Daniel Tanner/WENN.com)
Benicio del Toro (48) - February 19, 1967
Now a big piece of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Taneleer Tivan aka The Collector in Thor: The Dark World and Guardians of the Galaxy, Benicio del Toro appeared as a henchman in the James Bond film Licence to Kill, Fred Fenster in The Usual Suspects, Dr. Gonzo in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Jack “Jackie Boy” Raferty in Sin City, and Javier Rodríguez in Traffic for which he won an Academy Award.
(Photo Credit: FayesVision/WENN.com)
David Mazouz (14) - February 19, 2001
Currently playing young Bruce Wayne on “Gotham,” Mazouz is also known for co-starring alongside Kiefer Sutherland in the TV series “Touch.”
(Photo Credit: Rob Rich/WENN.com)
Miles Teller (28) - February 20, 1987
Though he can currently be seen in the Academy Award-nominated Whiplash, Teller will also appear as Dr. Reed Richards aka Mister Fantastic in Fox's upcoming Fantastic Four this summer. He also appeared in Divergent and The Spectacular Now.
(Photo Credit: FayesVision/WENN.com)
Kelsey Grammer (60) - February 21, 1955
Grammer is best known for playing Dr. Frasier Crane in “Cheers” and his spin-off “Fraiser,” for which he won his first four Primetime Emmys, he has also provided the voice for Sideshow Bob on “The Simpsons,” which resulted in his fifth Emmy award. He appeared in Transformers: Age of Extinction, The Expendables 3, and as Dr. Hank “Beast” McCoy in X-Men: The Last Stand and X-Men: Days of Future Past.
(Photo Credit: Daniel Tanner/WENN.com)
Ellen Page (28) - February 21, 1987
Nominated for an Academy Award for 2007's Juno, Ellen Page appeared as Kitty Pryde in X-Men: The Last Stand and X-Men: Days of Future Past. She also worked with Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn for his 2010 film Super and with The Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan in his 2010 film Inception.
(Photo Credit: Joel Ginsburg/WENN.com)
Sophie Turner (19) - February 21, 1996
Currently appearing as Sansa Stark in HBO's “Game of Thrones,” Turner is set to appear in the upcoming X-Men: Apocalypse as the young Jean Grey.
(Photo Credit: Apega/WENN.com)
Kyle MacLachlan (56) - February 22, 1959
Known by fans currently as Calvin Zabo/The Doctor in “Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” Kyle MacLachlan is most well known for playing Dale Cooper in “Twin Peaks” and other David Lynch fare such as Dune and Blue Velvet. He also provided the voice of Superman in 2008's animated film Justice League: The New Frontier.
(Photo Credit: FayesVision/WENN.com)
Ed Boon (51) - February 22, 1964
Co-creator of the Mortal Kombat franchise, Boon has had a hand in developing every game in the series and even provided the voice of Scorpion in both of the Mortal Kombat films. He also served as the creative director for Injustice: Gods Among Us and the mobile titles Batman: Arkham City Lockdown and Batman: Arkham Origins.
(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
Thomas Jane (46) - February 22, 1969
Jane brought Frank Castle aka The Punisher to life not only in the 2004 feature film but also the video game in 2005 and the 2012 short film “Dirty Laundry.” He's also appeared in a cameo in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World and provided the voice of Jonah Hex in a DC Showcase animated short.
(Photo Credit: Daniel Tanner/WENN.com)