October 29th, 2007 - Happy Birthday Winona Ryder!

Born Winona Laura Horowitz in Olmsted County, Minnesota, she was named after the nearby city of Winona. She was given her middle name, Laura, because of her parents’ friendship with Aldous Huxley’s wife, Laura Huxley.

Her mother, Cynthia Palmer, is the author of Shaman Woman, Mainline Lady: Women’s Writings on the Drug Experience, as well as a video producer and editor. Her father, Michael Horowitz, is an author, editor, publisher and antiquarian bookseller.

Ryder made her screen debut in Lucas (1986) playing a teenage girl with a crush on the film’s title character. In 1988, she received attention for her role in Beetlejuice as a Gothic teenager named Lydia.

After making various appearances in film and television, Ryder received her breakthrough role in the cult classic black comedy, Heathers (1989) alongside Christian Slater. Her subsequent performances in films such as Edward Scissorhands (1990), Mermaids (1990), Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992), Little Women (1994), The Age of Innocence (1994), and Girl, Interrupted (1999), have won her critical acclaim and some film awards. In 2000, Ryder received her Star on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California. So far she has received a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award and two Academy Award nominations in 1993 and 1994, respectively.

Ryder is also known for her high profile romance with Johnny Depp in the early 1990s. Her film career slowed down considerably after her arrest for shoplifting from a Saks Fifth Avenue store on December 12, 2001 — which attracted worldwide media attention. Despite the negative publicity, however, Ryder maintained a moderately successful film career well into the 2000s.

Ryder has had many high profile relationships with actors. She was engaged to actor Johnny Depp for three years beginning in July 1990. During their relationship, Depp had a tattoo placed on his arm reading “Winona Forever,” which he had altered to “Wino Forever” after their separation. Ryder later had serious relationships with Soul Asylum’s Dave Pirner and actor Matt Damon. Ryder also told W Magazine in a July, 2002 issue that she is close friends with comedian and actor Jimmy Fallon. She was also close friends with actress Gwyneth Paltrow, until they reportedly “grew apart”.

Richard Dreyfuss-Actor -60
Kate Jackson-Actress -59
Joely Fisher-Actress -40
Gabrielle Union-Actress -34
Brendan Fehr-Actor -30

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