Celebrity Birthdays, February 13: Jerry Springer and Mena Suvari

Television personality Jerry Springer and actress Mena Suvari are celebrating their birthdays today, February 13.

Jerry Springer, 71

Telvision show host and former politician Jerry Springer turns 71 today. In 1971, Springer was elected to the Cincinnati city council. After some controversy, he resigned in 1974, but grew back the confidence of voters and was back in the seat in 1975. In 1977, Springer was elected the 56th mayor by the City Council. Springer went on to work as a journalist and news anchor.

In 1991, Springer became the host of his self titled daytime talk show, The Jerry Springer Show. When it started, it focused on the topic of politics. In 1994, the show took a new direction in order to gain ratings, focusing on everyday people and touching on the subjects of adultery, homosexuality, prostitution and much more. The show became a hit and even beat The Oprah Winfrey Show in ratings by 1994.

Springer hosted NBC's America's Got Talent, replacing Regis Philbin, for two seasons. He went on to host Miss World 2000 and the Miss Universe 2008. In 2014, he guest hosted the 22nd season premiere episode of WWE Raw.

Springer also had a minor stint in acting, appearing in numerous television shows including Roseanne, The X-Files, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, Space Ghost Coast to Coast, Married... with Children, Las Vegas, Who's Line Is It Anyway? and many more. Springer also made film appearances in Ringmaster, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me and The Defender.

Springer currently hosts a dating game show called Baggage which airs on GSN. Springer and Micki Velton have been married since 1973 and they have one daughter, Katie.

image courtesy of Kristin Callahan/ACE/INFphoto.com

Mena Suvari, 36

Actress, fashion designer and model Mena Suvari turns 36 today. Suvari began her career as a model and later went into acting, appearing on the television series Boy Meets World and ER. In 1997, Suvari gained attention after her role in Nowhere alongside James Duval, Rachel True, Heather Graham and Ryan Phillippe. She had a small role in the film Kiss The Girls and a supporting role in Slums of Beverly Hills.

Suvari gained international fame after her role in the Academy Award winning film American Beauty. That same year, Suvari starred in the hit film American Pie and reprised her role for American Pie 2 and American Reunion. She earned a recurring role in the fourth season of the HBO series Six Feet Under.

Other notable films for Suvari include Loser, Sugar & Spice, Rumor Has It, Beauty Shop and You May Not Kiss the Bride. Suvari has modeled for Lancôme cosmetics and was featured in Vogue magazine. She later collaborated with Echo Design to launch a limited-edition three scarf collection.

Suvari starred as the lead in the Amazon Studios television series Hysteria. The show was not picked up for a full season. She also starred in the 2014 thriller Don't Blink.

image courtesy of INFphoto.com