By Neia Balao
3:00am PDT, Sep 12, 2023
_
Join us as we take a look at all the stars celebrating their 50th birthdays in 2023…
Actress, activist and professional poker player Shannon Elizabeth — who after rising to fame in "American Pie" founded the Shannon Elizabeth Foundation to conserve the natural environment of endangered habitats and animals — turned 50 on Sept. 7.
She took to Instagram to reveal how she celebrated her big birthday: "Thank you for all the birthday wishes! My hubby is taking me off the grid now for a week deep in the bush in Botswana! So please forgive me if you don't hear from me… I'll be with the animals. Lots of love from AFRICA!" she captioned a slideshow of photos from Botswana.
It's hard to believe, but Shannon looks almost exactly the same 24 years after she played foreign exchange student Nadia for the first time (see for yourself here and on her Instagram page).
In February 2023, she revealed during an appearance on the "Inside of You With Michael Rosenbaum" podcast that she was only paid "a couple thousand" dollars for her work in the first "American Pie" movie but "didn't care" because "it was my first studio film," she explained.
But she repeatedly turned down offers to reprise her role in the 2001 sequel until producers upped her salary. "I walked away from a lot of offers many times," she said. "My lawyer and my manager and agent all thought I was crazy. They were pushing me to say yes. I just kept saying no. I don't know why — I guess I had a number in my head I felt like they should pay and I got them to that number. You get 15 minutes, so you gotta milk it."
Her last movie was 2020's "Playing With Beethoven" — she'll next appear on screen in 2023's "Alone Today" — but in recent months, she's been co-directing a docuseries about a blind black rhino named Munu who's been cared for by her foundation for wildlife conservation (which is rooted in the nonprofit dog and cat rescue group, Animal Avengers, that Shannon founded in 2001).
Keep reading for more stars born in 1973…
MORE: Follow Wonderwall on MSN for more fun celebrity & entertainment photo galleries and content
_
If we had one wish, it would be to look as good as Heidi Klum on our 50th birthday! The German model and former Victoria's Secret Angel — who's now best known as a judge on "America's Got Talent" — strutted into her 50s on June 1.
_
On July 23, political pop culture figure Monica Lewinsky turned 50. She's now been famous — for better or for worse — for half her life: It was 25 years ago that the Drudge Report broke the news of a major scandal involving the former White House intern and then-President Bill Clinton.
MORE: Splits of 2023
_
Country music singer Gretchen Wilson — who burst onto the scene with her Grammy-winning No. 1 hit "Redneck Woman" in 2004 — celebrated her 50th birthday on June 26.
_
Reality TV star Tori Spelling — who found fame as Donna Martin on "Beverly Hills, 90210" before becoming a mother of five — turned 50 on May 16.
_
Former "Good Morning America" host Amy Robach — who made headlines in recent months for allegedly having an affair with co-anchor T.J. Holmes and ending her marriage to "Melrose Place" actor Andrew Shue before losing her "GMA" job — turned 50 on Feb. 6.
_
Mario Lopez is aging like a fine wine! The "Saved by the Bell" actor and "Access Hollywood" host will mark his milestone 50th birthday on Oct. 10.
_
It's true, Neil Patrick Harris just joined the 50s club! The endearing Tony- and Emmy-winning "How I Met Your Mother" and "Doogie Howser, M.D." star marked the milestone on June 15. As his character Barney Stinson would say, "Legendary!"
_
"Saturday Night Live" alum Kristen Wiig, who earned Golden Globe, Academy Award and SAG Award nominations for 2011's "Bridesmaids," which she co-wrote and starred in, turned 50 on Aug. 22.
_
She looks half her age! "Serendipity," "Click" and "Underworld" franchise actress Kate Beckinsale celebrated her 50th birthday on July 26.
_
Vera Farmiga, who stars in the Conjuring Universe films, blew out 50 candles on her birthday cake on Aug. 6.
_
"Beverly Hills, 90210" alum Brian Austin Green celebrated his milestone 50th birthday on July 15.
_
Miss USA 1996 Ali Landry walked into her 50s on July 21.
_
Former MTV VJ and "TRL" host Carson Daly — whom younger generations might know better as the host of "The Voice" or a co-host on the "Today" show — celebrated his 50th birthday on June 22.
_
Boybander-turned-host of "Love Is Blind" and "The Ultimatum" Nick Lachey will bid adieu to his 40s on Nov. 9 — the day he turns 50.
_
Tyra Banks has every reason to smize for the cameras come Dec. 4: It's the supermodel and "America's Next Top Model" creator's 50th birthday!
_
Academy Award-nominated "Cape Fear" actress Juliette Lewis — who founded the band Juliette and the Licks in 2003 — marked her 50th birthday on June 21.
_
Carlisle Cullen, is that you? Unlike his "Twilight" alter ego, Peter Facinelli isn't immortal! The New York City native turns 50 on Nov. 26.
_
"Sunset Beach" and "Third Watch" actor Eddie Cibrian — who's married to country music star LeAnn Rimes (and famous for having had affairs with her and "Vanderpump Rules" star Scheana Shay while married to first wife Brandi Glanville of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" fame) — turned 50 on June 16.
_
Model, actress and TV host Molly Sims celebrated her 50th on May 25.
_
"The Big Bang Theory" alum Jim Parsons — who was named the world's highest paid TV actor in 2018 by Forbes with an estimated annual salary of $26.5M — turned the big 5-0 on March 24.
_
Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme, who went through a bitter divorce and custody battle with the Distillers frontwoman Brody Dalle in recent years, celebrated his 50th birthday on May 17.
_
MSNBC television anchor Rachel Maddow celebrated her 50th birthday on the silliest day of the year: April Fool's Day!
_
On April 14, Academy Award-winning "The Pianist" actor Adrien Brody — who's been in a relationship with Marchesa designer Georgina Chapman, the ex-wife of disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein, since 2019 — turned 50.
_
On April 3, "Parks and Recreation" and "Party Down" actor Adam Scott — who earned an Emmy nod for his performance on the acclaimed Apple TV+ series "Severance" in 2022 — turned 50.
_
Late night host and "Saturday Night Live" alum Seth Meyers marks his 50th birthday on Dec. 28!
_
"30 Rock" actor Jack McBrayer turned the big 5-0 on May 27.
_
"Chappelle Show" funnyman Dave Chappelle has something major to laugh about in 2023: The five-time Emmy winner celebrated his 50th birthday on Aug. 24.
Last year was decidedly less humorous for the comedian, who was attacked by a knife-wielding fan during a gig in Los Angeles in May 2022 after he drew heat for comments he made about transgender people in an extremely controversial comedy special.
_
On March 26, Emmy-winning "Grey's Anatomy" actor T.R. Knight turned the big 5-0.
_
On April 8, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" actress Emma Caulfield — who in late 2022 revealed she has multiple sclerosis — celebrated her 50th birthday.
_
Australian actress Portia de Rossi said goodbye to her 40s as she turned 50 on Jan. 31! The "Ally McBeal" and "Arrested Development" actress marked the milestone by renewing her wedding vows with wife Ellen DeGeneres at their home in front of celebrity pals reportedly including Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Gwyneth Paltrow, Prince Harry, Duchess Meghan, Orlando Bloom, Katy Perry, Carol Burnett, Melissa Etheridge and Brandi Carlile.
_
Can you believe this Canadian beauty will soon be in her 50s?! On Oct. 3, "Party of Five," "The Craft" and "Scream" franchise actress Neve Campbell celebrates her 50th birthday.
_
Actress-activist Rose McGowan is saying farewell to her 40s this year! The "Charmed" darling turns 50 on Sept. 5.
_
"Charmed" and "Pretty Little Liars" actress Holly Marie Combs joins the 50s club on Dec. 3.
_
A childhood hero! Original "Blue's Clues" host Steve Burns, who earned a Daytime Emmy nod for his work on the children's television program, turns 50 on Oct. 9.
_
Actress-comedian Kathryn Hahn — who we know and loves from "WandaVision," "Bad Moms," "Transparent," "Step Brothers" and more — marks her 50th birthday on July 23.
_
Pharrell Williams will be "Happy" to know that he's one of the Hollywood stars who just doesn't seem to age! The award-winning musician-producer blew out 50 candles on his birthday cake on April 5.
_
Did James Marsden locate the fountain of youth?! The Hollywood leading man — who's starred in everything from "Enchanted," "27 Dresses" and "The Best of Me" to "The Notebook," the "X-Men" franchise and "Dead to Me" — celebrates his 50th birthday on Sept. 18.
_
Wilson Cruz — who made LGBTQ+ pop culture history on ABC's coming-of-age series "My So-Called Life" with his portrayal of high schooler Ricky Vasquez, television's first openly gay Latino teen — turns 50 on Dec. 27.
_
On Oct. 3, "Game of Thrones" alum Lena Headey will join the 50s club.
_
Acclaimed journalist and CNN program host Lisa Ling turns 50 on Aug. 30.
_
Iconic '90s supermodel Shalom Harlow kicks off her 50s on Dec. 5.
_
On Oct. 3, Keiko Agena — who's most recognized for her portrayal of quirky Stars Hollow teen Lane Kim on "Gilmore Girls" — turns 50.
_
Actor-comedian Ben Falcone, who's collaborated with wife Melissa McCarthy on films including "Bridesmaids," "Spy," "Can You Ever Forgive Me?" and more, turns 50 on Aug. 25.
_
Czech model Eva Herzigova — who's posed for Guess, Victoria's Secret, the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and all the top fashion designers but is perhaps best known as the model for the first Wonderbra campaign — marked her 50th birthday on March 10.
_
On Oct. 26, "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane celebrates his 50th birthday.
_
"The Walking Dead" and "Love, Actually" star Andrew Lincoln turns 50 on Sept. 14.
_
On July 3, Conjuring Universe actor and "Aquaman" star Patrick Wilson celebrated his 50th birthday.
_
On June 1, Adam Garcia — who starred alongside Piper Perabo in 2000's "Coyote Ugly" — turned 50.
_
"Riverdale" actress Marisol Nichols will blow out 50 candles on her birthday cake on Nov. 2.
_
This is no illusion! Magician David Blaine turned 50 on April 4.
_
Hopefully the "Temperature" was right for Sean Paul on his 50th birthday! He marked the milestone on Jan. 9.
_
"Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul" actress Betsy Brandt joined the 50s club on March 14.
_
"Konvicted" singer Akon turned 50 on April 16.
_
On May 17, Sasha Alexander — who played Pacey Witter's older sister Gretchen on "Dawson's Creek" — turned 50.
_
Aesthetic dermatologist Will Kirby, who won the second season of "Big Brother" in 2001, turned 50 on Jan. 2.
_
Green Day touring guitarist Jason White will strum into his 50s on Nov. 11.
