Historical Events 1893 - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's final opera "Iolanta"‚ is first performed outside of Russia in Hamburg‚ Germany 1945 - British Prime Minister Winston Churchill visits France 1984 - Syria frees captured US pilot after appeal from Jesse Jackson 1993 - "Catskills on Broadway" closes at Lunt-Fontanne NYC after 452 performances 2004 - Panthers kicker John Kasay ties NFL-playoff record with 5 field goals to lead Carolina to a 29-10 win over Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card round of playoffs in Charlotte‚ North Carolina 2022 - Scotsman Peter Wright wins his second PDC World Darts Championship; beats Michael Smith of England‚ 7-5 at the Alexandra Palace in London More Historical Events » Famous Birthdays 1698 - Pietro Metastasio‚ Italian poet (d. 1782) 1900 - Maurice Jaubert‚ French composer‚ born in Nice (d. 1940) 1932 - Mara Corday [Marilyn Joan Watts]‚ American actress‚ model and Playboy Playmate (Foxfire‚ Black Scorpion)‚ born in Santa Monica‚ California 1950 - Rick MacLeish‚ Canadian ice hockey center (Stanley Cup 1974‚ 75; Philadelphia Flyers; NHL All Star 1977‚ 78)‚ born in Lindsay‚ Ontario (d. 2016) 1969 - Nikki Nelson‚ American country singer (Highway 101 - "Cry Cry Cry"; "Whose Lonely Now")‚ born in La Mesa‚ California 1980 - Liya Kebede‚ Ethiopian model More Famous Birthdays » Famous Deaths 1761 - Willem de Fesch‚ Dutch violinist and composer (Joseph)‚ dies at 73 1965 - Julius Tannen‚ American vaudeville comedian‚ dies at 84 1975 - Milton Cross‚ American radio announcer (Metropolitan Opera's Saturday Afternoon at the Opera‚ 1931-75)‚ dies of a heart attack at 87 1995 - Gerard W. Taylor‚ South African-British surgeon‚ dies at 74 2002 - Al Smith‚ American baseball outfielder and third baseman (3-time MLB All Star; Cleveland Indians)‚ dies at 73 2014 - Phil Everly‚ American rock and roll singer-guitarist (The Everly Brothers - "Bye‚ Bye Love"; "Wake Up Little Susie"; "When WIll I Be Loved")‚ dies of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at 74 More Famous Deaths »