A friend to Han Solo and two rebels

Quote of today

"Hello. What have we here? Welcome. I'm Lando Calrissian. I'm the administrator of this facility. And who might you be?”

Lando Calrissian introduces himself to Princess Leia.
The Empire Strikes Back

Today we celebrate...
Billy Dee Williams at his 73th birthday (born 1937)
John Ratzenberger at his 63th birthday (born 1947)

Billy Dee Williams, birth name William December Williams, was born in New York, USA. He played Lando Calrissian in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, but he was originally auditioned for the role of Han Solo in 1976.

John Ratzenberger was born in Connecticut, USA and played Major Bren Derlin in The Empire Strikes Back. You can read more about him at his official website.

Jack McKenzie was born in Scotland, United Kingdom and played the rebel officer Cal Alder in The Empire Strikes Back..

Lando Calrissian is a scoundrel with style and class. He is a man of sophisticated tastes and goes way back with Han Solo.

There are at least three early incarnations of Lando in the script, a leader of a clan of clones, a gambler on a Wookie planet and the smuggler Lando Kadar. The Official Star Wars website's databank declare that contrary to legend, Lando was not intended to have died at the end of Return of the Jedi.

Major Bren Derlin is the rebel officer on Hoth that tells Leia that there's nothing more they can do, the shield doors must be closed when Han is out looking for Luke.

Some EU materials states that Derlin was part of Han Solo's commando team on Endor, though that means he had to be played by a different actor in Return of the Jedi.

Cal Alder is the Deck Lieutenant standing beside Major Bren Derlin.

Princess Leia, C-3PO, Major Bren Derlin and Lt Cal Alder.