Leap Year 2016: 5 Celebrities born on Feb. 29

While most people look forward to their birthdays every year, there are individuals who only get to officially celebrate every four years. Those who are born on Feb 29 are often referred to as “leap-year babies” or “leaplings,” who usually get to party on either the day before or after.

IMDB reports that there are more than 250 music, TV and movie personalities who blow their candles on Feb 29. Below are some celebrities who belong to the leapling group.

Dennis Farina (69 years old when he died)
The character actor, often typecast as a police officer or a mobster, appeared in several films and TV shows. He was known for his role as the no-nonsense New York detective on the NBC series "Law and Order," according to The Wrap, as well as in the HBO miniseries, "Empire Falls." His recent body of work included movies such as: "The Grand," which also starred Woody Harrelson, Cheryl Hines and Ray Romano; "Bottle Shock" with Alan Rickman, Bill Pullman and Bradley Whitford; and "What Happens in Vegas" with Cameron Diaz. In 1996, he was named as the Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture at the American Comedy Awards for his performance in “Get Shorty.” The movie starred Gene Hackman, John Travolta, Danny DeVito and Rene Russo. Farina was also noted in Steven Spielberg’s "Saving Private Ryan" with Tom Hanks and Matt Damon. Farina also starred opposite Brad Pitt and Benicio Del Toro in the darkly comedic crime drama "Snatch," directed by Guy Ritchie.

Source: YouTube/Movieclips Trailer Vault

Ja Rule (turning 40 years old)
A rapper, singer and actor, Ja Rule was famous for topping the charts in the late 1990s to the early 2000s. Born as Jeffrey Atkins, the musician collaborated with several female singers including Jennifer Lopez (“I’m Real” and “Ain’t It Funny,”), Ashanti (“Always on Time” and Mesmerize”) and Christina Milian (“Between Me and You”). Ja Rule was affiliated with The Inc. Records, formerly known as Murder Inc. He was nominated in the Grammy Awards for four times, according to Aceshowbiz. His album, “Pain Is Love,” also topped the US Billboard 200 in 2001.

Source: YouTube/JenniferLopezVEVO

Antonio Sabato Jr. (turning 44 years old)
The Italy-born model and actor first made waves as a scantily clad Calvin Klein underwear endorser. He was also noted for his roles in US daytime soaps “General Hospital” (from 1992 to 1995) as Jagger Cates and “The Bold and the Beautiful” (from 2005 to 2006) as Dante Damiano. Sabato also starred in the US prime time soap opera “Melrose Place.” He also appeared in various TV shows and movies throughout the 1990s and 2000s as a guest star or supporting actor. In 2009, he was featured in the reality TV show “My Antonio,” which follows the format of “The Bachelor.” The celebrity dating series, which ran for only one season with 10 episodes, followed Sabato’s quest for true love with various women competing to become his girlfriend. At the end of the show, Sabato chose Brooke Barlow, who revealed that their romance was short-lived according to the NY Daily News. Sabato was also seen in the reality TV show “Dancing With The Stars.”

Caitlyn E.J. Meyer (turning 24 years old)
Perhaps the youngest celebrity leapling, Meyer is an American actress who appeared in the independent comedy movie “Little Secrets” with Evan Rachel Wood, Michael Angarano, and David Gallagher. Her first film role was in the 2002 film I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus with twins Dylan and Cole Sprouse. Meyer is set to appear in 2016 films “The Elving Project and the sci-fi horror “Alienate,” according to IMDB.

Dinah Shore (78 years old when she died)
Born as Frances "Fanny" Rose Shore, she is an American singer, actress and TV personality. She is best known as a top-charting female vocalist of the 1940s, earning numerous Emmy awards for television specials and productions. Shore had around 80 popular hits from 1940 to 1957. She also starred in her own music and variety shows from 1951 through 1963, as well as hosted two talk shows in the 1970s. In 1996, she was ranked #16 in TV Guide magazine’s top fifty television stars of all time. Shore was married to actor George Montgomery, with whom she had one daughter and adopted a son.