Celebrity Birthdays

The lovely Lauren Conrad turns 26 today. Happy birthday, LC!

While she became famous because MTV's Laguna Beach and The Hills, the California girl is a bit of an anomaly, seeking LESS attention and bowing out on her terms.

Choosing to focus on her personal life and branch out career-wise, Lauren left a show that made her a star and has lived largely under the radar for years now.

She did top the N.Y. Times Bestseller List and continues to work as a celebrity fashion designer, but seems to content to live a lower-profile life. More power to her.

Leave a comment with your birthday greetings for one of our favorite celebs below, and follow the jump for some classic Lauren Conrad pictures and Hills clips ...

Cutest happy birthday greetings ever?

Darn close if not. Ellen DeGeneres celebrated her 54th on Thursday and to mark the big occasion, Pink sent in a video message to her friend the talk show host.

With daughter Willow in tow!

"Hi Ellen. I love you, I love you, I love you," she said from her yard. "I wish you this year freedom, love, laughter, sleeping in late, getting lots of rest."

From there, the singer went inside, where adorable 8-month-old daughter Willow (dad is husband Carey Hart) was waiting to say hello. Awww!

Pink Wishes Ellen Happy Birthday

Octomom Nadya Suleman's octuplets turn three today.

Pray for them. Even if you're not religious ... just pray.

We're legitimately shocked they all survived this long, looking relatively healthy to boot, with her as the mom, but hey, it's a very pleasant surprise. Eight times over.

Nadya Suleman took her octuplets out for some fun to celebrate, hitting up the Seascape Kids Fun venue in Los Angeles. Looks like a good time was had, except perhaps by the random paparazzi guy creeping in the background.

Suleman's octuplets are Noah, Maliyah, Isaiah, Nariah, Makai, Josiah, Jeremiah and Jonah.

Her other children are Elijah Makai, Amerah Yasmeen, Joshua Jacob, Aiden, Calyssa Airelle and Caleb Kai. Yes, that makes 14 kids and no jobs in all.

Again, pray for them.

[Photo: Pacific Coast News]

The First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, turns 48 today.

The first-ever African-American First Lady, Michelle doesn't describe herself in such terms. Instead, she doesn't hesitate to say that first and foremost, she is Malia and Sasha's mom, and that before that, she was a wife, lawyer and public servant.

Here's an official White House portrait of Michelle and family:

Promoting Service and working with young people has remained a staple of her career and her interest in the White House, exemplified by her Let’s Move campaign to bring together communities in a nationwide effort to tackle childhood obesity.

Michelle also co-founded Joining Forces, a nationwide initiative that mobilizes all sectors of society to give our service members and their families the opportunities and support they deserve, and to raise awareness of military families' unique needs.

Regardless of your political views, here's wishing the First Lady a very happy birthday on this day. Click to enlarge some of our favorite Michelle Obama photos below!

Betty Whit turns 90 years old today. Ninety.

Proof that you're only as young as you feel, the actress enters her tenth decade on Earth - and eighth in show business - not in decline, but on a career hot streak!

She's everyone's favorite Golden Girl, but at 90 and more popular than ever, she's a bona fide It Girl as well. Most stars peak early on. White probably still hasn't.

Betty has won seven Emmys (20 nominations) and holds the distinction of being the only person to have an Emmy in all female performing comedic categories!

Happy birthday to the queen of Hollywood!

What additional career accolades will Betty White achieve by age 100?

[Photo: WENN.com]

The 83rd birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., was actually yesterday. But in honor of one of American's greatest heroes, a national holiday commemorates it today.

The clergyman, activist, and civil rights leader became an iconic figure in the 1960s for embracing nonviolent methods to bring about sweeping social reforms.

King's efforts in the American civil rights movements culminated in the 1963 March on Washington, where he delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech (below).

Martin Luther King Jr. "I Have a Dream" Speech

One of the most stirring orators in U.S. history, King personified the movement to expand American values to include a vision of an egalitarian, color blind society.

In 1964, MLK became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to end racial segregation and racial discrimination in the U.S.

By the time of his death in 1968, at the age of 39, he had refocused his efforts on an even broader scale, seeking to end poverty and the Vietnam War.

Happy birthday to a true giant among men!

Today is Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, which the U.S. marks tomorrow with a national holiday - a fitting tribute to an individual so peerless in modern times.

Far less significant, but still fun? Pitbull also celebrates a birthday today!

The Miami-born, Cuban-American rap guru has become a force to be reckoned with in recent years, showing us that music is indeed the international language.

No longer just Mr. 305, Mr. Worldwide is collaborating with everyone from J. Lo and Marc Anthony to Ne-Yo and T-Pain, cranking out one hit after another.

As we look forward to his next smash hit, here's wishing Armando Christian Perez, better known by his stage name Pitbull, a happy 31st birthday today.

He's no longer simply known as Miley Cyrus' Boyfriend. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Liam Hemsworth has established his own identity, having landed one of the lead roles in this spring's The Hunger Games. And, now, the man behind Gale Hawthorne is 22 years old. Today is his birthday!

Look for the Australian's stock to positively sky-rocket following the March 23 release of this blockbuster. It should be fun to watch.

Also celebrating a birthday today is: Orlando Bloom (35), Patrick Dempsey (46) and Julia-Louis Dreyfus (51).

[Photo: WENN.com]

Catherine Elizabeth "Kate" Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, wife of Prince William, emblem of quiet classiness and global style icon, is 30 years old today!

Ever since she began dating William, and especially after last April's Royal Wedding, the down-to-earth beauty has become a fan favorite across the globe.

We're fans - how can you not be?

The first commoner to marry an heir to the British throne in over a century, the charitable, demure Kate Middleton embodies everything one would hope the royal family represents, and is the perfect standard-bearer for the next generation.

No wonder she's become the subject of constant pregnancy rumors. No pressure.

In addition to popularizing high-end fashion designers (Erdem Moralioglu, Sarah Burton, Daniella Issa Halleyal, Alice Temperley), but Kate has also lived up to her billing as the People's Princess in brands such as Zara, Reiss and Topshop.

She's also introduced us to Pippa Middleton, her younger sister. Thank you, Kate!

And Happy birthday again! here's a little photo gallery in honor of the Duchess:

Two athletic icons celebrate a birthday today, and it's rather clear what gift both need.

First, LeBron James turns 27. The Miami Heat superstar and his squad are off to a strong start to the 2011-2012 season, currently 3-0 thanks to a buzzer-beating victory Wednesday night against Charlotte.

Have you seen their latest introductory video? Someone needs to get this guy a mansion just for his ego.

Tiger Woods, meanwhile, is now 35. He actually won a golf tournament to close out 2011 and could use a hug. His most famous mistress is pregnant with someone else's baby, after all. That's gotta hurt.

Other celebrities celebrating birthdays today include: Kristin Kreuk (29), Eliza Dushku  (31), Sean Hannity  (50) and Matt Lauer  (54).

[Photos: WENN.com]