RAMON NOVARRO, Mexican actor born (d. 1969); Ben-Hur – bulging biceps lashing fleet steeds in the famous Colisseum chariot race; the whitest teeth that ever were; the Roman tunic that one wishes were just a wee bit shorter: This is the picture of Ramon Novarro remembered by movie buffs. Many more films, however, made and kept him MGM’s great Latin lover throughout the 20s and 30s. He was one of Richard Halliburton’s (see Gay Wisdom 1/9/08) Hollywood bed-mates and the actor forced to deliver one of the most memorable lines in movie history (says Novarro to Greta Garbo, who, as Mata Hari is registering world-weariness and pain: “What’s the matter, Mata?”) Novarro's relationship with Hollywood journalist, Herbert Howe, is discussed in two biographies: Allan R. Ellenberger's Ramon Novarro and André Soares's Beyond Paradise: The Life of Ramon Novarro.

In the end, in 1968, this still-handsome actor was murdered by two Mormon brothers, and hustlers, the lead dildo once given him by Rudolph Valentino reputedly the murder weapon.

ANGELA BOWEN was born on this date, in Boston. Her father, Charles, died when she was 2. Her mother, Sarah Allen Bowen, was determined that her children succeed, which came into play when young Angela experienced a growth spurt at age 12 and began to stoop as a result. 

Bowen, who in a varied and influential life was a dancer, a dance teacher, a scholar and a passionate voice on Lesbian, black and feminist issues, died  from complications of Alzheimer's disease on July 12 in Long Beach, Calif. She was 82 and is survived by her wife, Jennifer Lynn Abod, said.

Dr. Bowen shaped countless young lives through the Bowen/Peters School of Dance in New Haven, CT which she ran from 1963 to 1982 with her husband at the time, Ken Peters. For the students, many of whom were black and came from less-than-affluent homes, the dancing they did was only part of the instruction.

A 2016 documentary. The Passionate Pursuits of Angela Bowen,  by directorJennifer Abod chronicles Bowen's life, more here:  http://www.jenniferabod.com/ 

KATHY NAJIMY, American actress and comedienne, born; Najimy’s first major role was in the 1992 comedy Sister Act, in the role of Sister Mary Patrick. She reprised this role in the 1993 in Sister Act 2. She co-created and starred in the hit off-Broadway show and HBO specials "Kathy & Mo, with friend and actress Mo Gaffney. Najimy garnered rave reviews for her performance as Mae West in the Broadway hit Dirty Blonde. She portrayed the pushy Dr. Mildred Finch on NUMB3RS.

Najimy, out bisexual, married comedic actor/singer Dan Finnerty in August 1995; they have one daughter. Najimy is a proud feminist and is also noted as an activist for human rights and Gay Rights.