Big 5-Oh
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Pharrell Williams
(APRIL 5) This dapper musician has a reputation as a spreader of joy, whether he’s making people bop along to “Happy,” his infectious hit single, or opening the whimsical Goodtime Hotel in Miami’s South Beach, as he did in 2021. He’s also known for his eye-catching style—often favoring a high-end streetwear look with accessories like Swarovski-encrusted Adidas sneakers and diamond-studded Tiffany & Co. sunglasses. So much so that the French luxury brand Louis Vuitton announced in February that it had hired Williams as its new creative director for menswear. This was soon after he’d auctioned off some of his massive stash of bling—including a golden BlackBerry—pulling in $5.25 million, in part to support his Black Ambition program assisting Black- and Hispanic-owned start-ups. “It’s the end of an era,” he told Fast Company. “It’s a new beginning for me. ... This is a transmutation. This is a transformation.” —Nicholas DeRenzo
More Milestone Birthdays
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David Blaine
APRIL 4
Magician plans to quit death-defying stunts at 52, the age Harry Houdini died.
50
Adrien Brody
APRIL 14
Actor is working with director Wes Anderson for fifth time, on upcoming film Asteroid City.
50
Tori Spelling
MAY 16
Actor and 90210 castmate Jennie Garth have new home decor line, the BFF Collection.
60
Julian Lennon
APRIL 8
Musician’s legal name was John, like dad; got “crap” at airport security, is now officially Julian.
60
Conan O’ Brien
APRIL 18
Comedian offers stand-up bits, celeb chats on new SiriusXM channel, Team Coco Radio.
60
Jet Li
APRIL 26
Martial artist is devoted to meditation; has said he often practices for 8 hours a day.
90
Carol Burnett
APRIL 26
Comic legend appeared with Bob Odenkirk last year on final episodes of Better Call Saul.
90
Willie Nelson
APRIL 29
Star’s album I Don’t Know a Thing About Love honors songwriter Harlan Howard.
Illustration by Sean McCabe. Pharrell Williams primary photo: Samir Hussein/WireImage via Getty Images. Clockwise from top right: Michael Tran/FilmMagic via Getty Images; C. Flanigan/FilmMagic via Getty Images; Lester Cohen/Getty Images for Epic Records; Kevin Winter/Getty Images; Universal Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection; F. Scott Schafer/Corbis via Contour by Getty Images; Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Global Citizen. Blaine: Manny Carabel/Getty Images; Brody: Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images; Spelling: Gotham/GC Images; Lennon: Steve Jennings/Getty Images; O'Brien: John Sciulli/Getty Images for Turner; Li: Amy Sussman/Getty Images; Burnett: Cara Robbins/Contour by Getty Images; Nelson: Suzanne Cordeiro/AFP via Getty Images.