Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Celebrity Birthdays for April 6: Nobel Prize-winning scientist James D. Watson is 97. Actor Billy Dee Williams is 88. Actor Roy Thinnes ("The Invaders") is 87. Movie director Barry Levinson is 83. British singer Julie Rogers is 82.

Today in History for April 6: In 1528, Albrecht Durer, German painter, engraver, and designer of woodcuts, died. His most popular work is ``Praying Hands.

Today in Music History for April 6: In 1759, George Frideric Handel made his last public performance, conducting his oratorio ``The Messiah.'' He died eight days later.

Celebrity Birthdays for April 5: Opera singer Mary Costa is 95. Actor Michael Moriarty ("Law and Order") is 84. Singer Allan Clarke of The Hollies is 83. Writer-director Peter Greenaway is 83.

Today in Music History for April 5: In 1922, Canadian composer Harry Freedman was born in Lodz, Poland. In 1970, he became the Toronto Symphony Orchestra's first composer-in-residence.

Today in History for April 5: In 1614, in Virginia, Indian chief Powhatan's daughter, Pocahontas, married English colonist John Rolfe. She was one of the first North American native converts to Christianity. She went by the name Lady Rebecca.

Celebrity Birthdays for April 9: Satirical songwriter and mathematician Tom Lehrer is 97. Actress Michael Learned ("The Waltons") is 86. Jazz and rock drummer Steve Gadd is 80. Country singer Con Hunley is 80.

Celebrity Birthdays for April 8: Author and Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Seymour Hersh is 88. Original Mouseketeer Darlene Gillespie is 84. Singer Peggy Lennon of the Lennon Sisters is 84. Songwriter-producer Leon Huff of Gamble and Huff is 83.

Celebrity Birthdays for April 10: Actor Steven Seagal is 73. Singer Terre Roche of The Roches is 72. Actor Peter MacNicol ("Numb3rs," ''Ally McBeal") is 71. Singer-producer Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds is 67. Musician Brian Setzer is 66.

Celebrity Birthdays for April 12: Playwright Alan Ayckbourn is 86. Jazz musician Herbie Hancock is 85. Rock singer John Kay of Steppenwolf is 81. Actor Ed O'Neill ("Modern Family," ''Married...With Children") is 79.