Celebrity Birthdays: Happy Birthday, Russell Simmons!

Toni Braxton, Talib Kweli and Al Sharpton also celebrate.

Jurnee Smollett-Bell: October 1 - The Friday Night Lights actress turns 27 this week.(Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

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Jurnee Smollett: October 1 - The Eve's Bayou actress celebrates her 26th birthday. (Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Howard Hewett: October 1 - The gospel singer and former Shalamar frontman turns 58.  (Photo: Lamond Goodloe/PictureGroup)

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Howard Hewett: October 1 - The former Shalamar frontman and Soul Train regular turns 57. (Photo: Lamond Goodloe/PictureGroup)

Youssou N'Dour: October 1 - The Senegalese singer celebrates his 54th birthday.  (Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

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Youssou N'Dour: October 1 - The Senegalese singer, known for his hit "Seven Seconds," turns 53. (Photo:  Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images

Freddie Jackson: October 2 - The "You Are My Lady" crooner celebrates his 57th birthday.  (Photo: Cindy Ord/Getty Images)

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Freddie Jackson: October 2 - The "You Are My Lady" singer turns 56. (Photo: Cindy Ord/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Cindy Ord/Getty Images

Mandisa: October 2 - The former American Idol contestant turns 37. (Photo: Moses Robinson/Getty Images for Gospel Music Association)

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Mandisa: October 1 - The American Idol finalist, who is looking better than ever after a 100-pound weight loss, turns 36. (Photo: Moses Robinson/Getty Images for Gospel Music Association)

Photo By Photo: Moses Robinson/Getty Images for Gospel Music Association

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Chubby Checker: October 3 - The godfather of "The Twist" celebrates his 72nd birthday.  (Photo: Bill McCay/Getty Images)

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Chubby Checker: October 3 - This Philadelphia native is still doing "The Twist" at 71!  (Photo: Bill McCay/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Bill McCay/Getty Images

Al Sharpton: October 3 - The reverend and political pundit turns 58. (Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

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Al Sharpton: October 3 - The reverend and political pundit turns 58. (Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

Keb' Mo': October 3 - The Grammy-winning blues musician celebrates his 62nd birthday. (Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images)

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Keb' Mo': October 3 - The blues great celebrates his 61st birthday. (Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images)

Gwen Stefani: October 3 - No Doubt's leading lady — who is pregnant with her third child — turns 44 this week. (Photo: Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Clear Channel)

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Gwen Stefani: October 3 - No Doubt's leading lady is still a bombshell at 43. (Photo: Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Clear Channel)

Photo By Photo: Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Clear Channel

India.Arie: October 3 - The "Video" singer and multiple-Grammy winner celebrates her 37th birthday. (Photo: BET) 

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India.Arie: October 3 - The "Video" singer and multiple-Grammy winner celebrates her 37th birthday. (Photo: BET) 

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Talib Kweli, @TalibKweli - Tweet: "If we let the 'system' do it's thing this time next year Darren Wilson will be a bigger celeb than George Zimmerman"Kweli shuts down a follower who suggested that we wait for the system to jail Officer Darren Wilson — the cop responsible for killing Michael Brown — as opposed to continuing with the protests in Ferguson and public outrage. (Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Park City Live)

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Talib Kweli - The hip hop icon, one half of the duo Black Star, turns 37. (Photo:  Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Park City Live)

Lil Mama: October 4 - The petite rapper and America's Best Dance Crew judge turns 23. (Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

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Lil Mama: October 4 - The petite rapper and America's Best Dance Crew judge turns 23. (Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

Russell Simmons: October 4 - The hip hop mogul is as youthful as ever at 55. (Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

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Russell Simmons: October 4 - The hip hop mogul is as youthful as ever at 55. (Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

Grant Hill: October 5 - The NBA all-star celebrates his big 4-0 with his beautiful wife Tamia. (Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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Grant Hill: October 5 - The NBA all-star celebrates his big 4-0 with his beautiful wife Tamia. (Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Heather Headley: October 5 - The soul singer and Broadway actress, who has both a Grammy and a Tony Award to her name, turns 39.  (Photo: Ben Pruchnie/Getty Images)

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Heather Headley: October 5 - The Tony-winning actress and singer, born in Trinidad, turns 38. (Photo: Ben Pruchnie/Getty Images)

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Simon Cowell: October 7 - American Idol's former resident meanie turns 53. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Simon Cowell: October 7 - American Idol's former resident meanie turns 53. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Toni Braxton on her dream acting role:  - "I would like to play a lesbian. I don't know why. And do a whole make-out scene and the whole thing; just something completely different than people would expect from me. Not a lipstick lesbian, either."  (Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

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Toni Braxton: October 7 - The singer and Braxton Family Values star celebrates her 46th birthday. (Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)