This week's birthday boys were born on the same date but their paths, in this lifetime, have not crossed again. May they inspire you to take your own path too.
Robin Williams (7/21/1951) - 58
Robin McLaurim Williams is best known for his impromptu humor, which he used frequently in the role of an alien in the popular TV show Mork and Mindy.Williams was voted lucky number 13 of the 100 Greatest Stand-ups of All Time by Comedy Central.
But this comedic has far great depth as a performer than the comedy stage could contain. He was nominated for Academy Awards for Good Morning, Vietnam, Dead Poets Society and The Fisher King. He proved his ability to portray delightful characters in The Birdcage and Mrs. Doubtfire as well as disturbed ones in Insomnia, The Night Listener and One Hour Photo. Williams won an Oscar as Best Supporting Actor in Good Will Hunting.
Robin has suffered from cocaine and alcohol abuse over the years. He overcame his cocaine addiction but has had alcohol relapses and has sought rehab treatment. He underwent successful heart surgery in March 2009.
Williams is scheduled for 20 tour dates starting in September and will do an HBO special, Weapons of Self-Destruction, in December.
Williams was married to Valerie Velardi for 10 years. He married Marsha Garces, his children's nanny, shortly after the divorce from Valerie. After 20 years together, Marsha filed for divorce in 2008. Robin has one son with Valerie, Zachary Pym and two children with Marsha, Zelda Rae and Cody Alan.
Best line: You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it.
Cat Stevens (7/21/1948) - 61
Steven Demetre Georgiou changed his name to Cat Stevens as a young British singer and songwriter. At the height of his career in 1977, Stevens converted to Islam and changed his name to Yusuf Islam.
As a 1960s folk singer, Stevens was accomplished and popular with songs such as Atlantis, Father and Son, Moon Shadow, Peace Train, Where Do The Children Play, Miles From Nowhere and many, many more.
His religious conversion came after a near drowning off Malibu, where he allegedly vowed to work for God if he was saved. Obviously he was saved and true to his word, Stevens searched for God's calling and found it in the Qur'an, thus, leaving his music career behind.
Stevens now Yusuf returned to his music in the 1990s with songs of Islam. Over the years he has incorporated material from his Cat Stevens days and continues to perform.
Yusuf is married to Fauzia, a traditional Muslin. The couple has four daughters; a son died days after birth due to heart complications.
Best line: To be what you want to be, you must give up being what you are.
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