On November 13, 1939, Lois Weber -- recognised as Hollywood's first female director -- died. She directed her first film, The Troubadour's Triumph, in 1912. She also acted in some of her films, along with her husband, apart from taking on the role of screenwriter. Weber was clearly a woman ahead of her time. Her 1916 film Where Are My Children?, for instance, dealt with birth control!
Also on November 13, but in 1949, Caryn Johnson was born in New York City. She would make a lot of people laugh a few decades later, as big screen comic Whoopi Goldberg.
Goldberg began acting at the tender age of eight. She dropped out of school, fought drug addiction, had a daughter and a failed marriage, while starting with small roles on Broadway.
After launching her own comedy act, she eventually made her movie debut at 36, with 1985's The Color Purple. The film, which also starred Oprah Winfrey, got Goldberg an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.
Today, with classics like Jumpin' Jack Flash, Ghost and Sister Act on her CV, she is recognised as a true comic genius.
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