Today In Entertainment History Vol. 14

1899 – Actress Gloria Swanson is born

In her heyday, audiences went to her films not only for her emotional portrayals in lurid romances, but to see her wardrobe. Frequently ornamented with beads, jewels, peacock and ostrich feathers, haute couture of the day or extravagant period pieces, one would hardly suspect that Gloria was barely five feet (1.52 m) tall.

At the end of Sunset Boulevard, it was Gloria Swanson’s character who uttered the now famous, “All right, Mr. DeMille. I’m ready for my close-up.”

1942 – British actor Michael York is born

Austin Powers: Only two things scare me and one of them is nuclear war.
Basil Exposition: What’s the other?
Austin Powers: Excuse me?
Basil Exposition: What’s the other thing that scares you?
Austin Powers: Carnies. Circus folk. Nomads, you know. Smell like cabbage. Small hands. IMDb

1977 – Actress Diana Hyland dies at age 40

In 1976 she began a relationship with the actor John Travolta, 18 years her junior…The two appeared together in a television movie, The Boy in the Plastic Bubble (1976), and Hyland was then signed to play the wife of Dick Van Patten’s character in the series Eight is Enough.

Hyland was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy. Despite this, her health deteriorated and after filming four episodes she left the series, but did not tell the cast her true predicament. She pretended she had suffered damage from a skiing accident, and when cast members would visit she would have her leg in traction to keep up the ruse.

However, Hyland’s illness overwhelmed her quickly and less than a year later she died, reportedly in Travolta’s arms…When Eight is Enough resumed for its second season, it was explained in the story that her character had died.