50 years later, the man born without arms who became the face of the Thalidomide disaster continues to inspire others. Duncan Lindsay for Metro.co.ukTuesday 13 Oct 2015 4:04 pm. (Picture: BBC) Born without any arms, Brett Nielsen quickly became the face of the infamous Thalidomide disaster in the late 50s and the 60s. He was the first baby born without arms due to Thalidomide in Australia and an award-winning documentary aired in 1965 which followed Brettâs development and day to day life as a 4-year-old struggling with his condition.
July 31, 1957 (age 52) Dirk Blocker (born July 31, 1957) played Abel Makay in the episode School Mom on Little House on the Prairie. His father is Dan Blocker, who played Hoss Cartwright on Bonanza. Other works for Blocker include M*A*S*H, MacGyver, Murder, She Wrote, Walker Texas Ranger, Doogie Howser, M.D., among others. He is currently married to actress Danielle Aubuchon.
In 1963 Dan was one on the groundfoor for the opening of the Ponderosa Steak House, which quickly swept throughout North America. Dan became not only their spokesperson, but would often make appearances in full Hoss Cartwright costume.