Friday, Oct. 19, is the 293d day of 2012. There are 73 days left in the year.

Today’s birthdays: Author John le Carre is 81. Artist Peter Max is 75. Actor Michael Gambon is 72. Actor John Lithgow is 67. Feminist activist Patricia Ireland is 67. Singer Jennifer Holliday is 52. Boxer Evander Holyfield is 50. TV host Ty Pennington is 48. Actor-director Jon Favreau is 46. ‘‘South Park’’ co-creator Trey Parker is 43. Writer-director Jason Reitman is 35.