Celebrity Birthdays, December 10: Raven Symone and Bobby Flay

Actress Raven Symone and chef Bobby Flay are celebrating their birthdays today, December 10.

Raven Symone, 29

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Actress, singer, comedian, model, dancer and television producer Raven Symone turns 29 today. Symone first appeared on television in 1989 on The Cosby Show. In 1993, she released her debut album, Here's to New Dreams. The single, "That's What Little Girls Are Made Of," peaked at No. 68 on the US Billboard Hot 100. She later released the album Undeniable in May 1999.

Symone appeared in several successful television series after The Cosby Show, including Hangin' with Mr. Cooper. From 2003 to 2007, she starred in the Disney Channel series, That's So Raven in which she played a psychic teenager who tried her best to keep her psychic powers a secret. During her time on the show, she released her third studio album, This is My Time, was her best selling solo album to date. In 2008, a year after the end of That's So Raven, she released her fourth studio album, Raven-Symoné. During 2003 to 2006, she participated in four soundtracks from Disney, The Cheetah Girls, That's So Raven, That's So Raven Too! and The Cheetah Girls 2. As of April 2008, Raven-Symoné has sold 314,000 albums in the United States.

Symone transitioned to film, starring in several feature films including Dr. Dolittle, Dr. Dolittle 2 and College Road Trip. She also starred in successful television films including Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century, The Cheetah Girls and its sequel, For One Night and Revenge of the Bridesmaids. Symone has also lent her voice to the animated series Kim Possible and Tinker Bell. In 2011, Symone starred in the short-lived ABC Family comedy series State of Georgia.

In 2012, Symone ranked No. 8 on VH1 '​s "100 Greatest Kid Stars Of All Time" list.

Bobby Flay, 50

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Chef, restaurateur and reality television personality Bobby Flay turns 50 today. Flay received a degree in culinary arts and was a member of the first graduating class of the French Culinary Institute in 1984. After culinary school, he started working as a sous-chef. He took a position as a chef working for restaurateur Jonathan Waxman at Bud and Jams. Waxman introduced Flay to southwestern and Cajun cuisine, which came to define his culinary career.

Flay caught the attention of restaurateur Jerome Kretchmer, who was looking for a southwestern style chef. Impressed by Flay's food, Kretchmer offered him the position of executive chef at Mesa Grill, which opened on January 15, 1991. Shortly after, Flay became a partner. Flay opened a second Mesa Grill at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas in 2004, and in 2005 he opened Bar Americain in Midtown Manhattan. He continued to expand his restaurants by opening Bobby Flay Steak in the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey, followed by a third Mesa Grill in the Bahamas.

Flay has hosted thirteen cooking shows and specials on Food Network and Cooking Channel including Throwdown! with Bobby Flay, Grill It! with Bobby Flay, Brunch at Bobby's, Worst Cooks in America, Bobby's Dinner Battle, BBQ with Bobby, Boy Meets Grill, The BEst Thing I Ever Ate and Beat Bobby Flay.

Flay established the Bobby Flay Scholarship in 2003. This full scholarship to the French Culinary Institute is awarded annually to a student in the Long Island City Culinary Arts Program. Flay personally helps select the recipient each year.

In 2005, Flay married actress Stephanie March, and has a daughter, Sophie, from a previous marriage.