Born:
Nicholas Sparks, born in Omaha, Nebraska, bestselling author, writer, novelist, wrote, 'A Walk to Remember', author of novels including, 'Nights in Rodanthe', 'The Last Song', 'The Notebook'
More Notable Birthdays on December 31:
1959 - Val Kilmer, actor, Top Secret, Top Gun, Willow
1946 - Patti Smith, born in Chicago, Illinois, rock vocalist, Radio Ethiopia
1943 - Ben Kingsley, Scarborough England, actor, Gandhi, Betrayal, Maurice
1937 - Anthony Hopkins, born in Wales, actor, Elephant Man, QB VII, Magic, Bounty
1869 - Henri Matisse, France, impressionist painter, Odalisque
