Diane Lane

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1965

Birthplace: New York, New York, United States

Ranked 79th on VH1's list of 100 Greatest Kid Stars, Diane Lane started off as a child actress before becoming a well-known leading Hollywood actress. Also known for her beauty, Diane has been featured in lists, such as Top 99 Most Desirable Women. A talented actress, Diane Lane has also worked with several charity organizations, such as Heifer International.

Guy Fieri

Listed In: Business People

Birth Year: 1968

Birthplace: Columbus, Ohio, United States

Primarily a restaurateur, Guy Fieri is a testimony to the fact that any professional can become famous if they are passionate enough in doing what they do best. From being a restaurateur, he went on to become a TV personality, hosting shows for Food Network channel. By mid-2010, he had become the face of the network.

Sam Cooke

Listed In: Singers

Birth Year: 1931

Birthplace: Clarksdale, Mississippi, United States

Died: 1964

The King of Soul Sam Cooke is best remembered for his hits A Change is Gonna Come, You Send Me, and Wonderful World. He began singing gospel as a child and later joined The Soul Stirrers. He was shot and killed by a motel manager in Los Angeles. 

Lord Byron

Listed In: Writers

Birth Year: 1788

Birthplace: London, England

Died: 1824

Widely considered one of the greatest British poets of all time, Lord Byron remains influential as his works are widely read even today. He was also one of the most important personalities of the Romantic Movement. He is also known for his role in the Greek War of Independence, for which the Greeks consider him a national hero.

Logic

Listed In: Singers

Birth Year: 1990

Birthplace: Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States

Rapper and hip-hop artist Logic, earlier known as “Psychological,” initially gained fame with his Young Sinatra mixtapes, which helped him secure a deal with Def Jam Recordings. After delivering gold and platinum albums, he quit music and became a Twitch and YouTube star. He has written a bestselling novel, too.

Steve Perry

Listed In: Singers

Birth Year: 1949

Birthplace: Hanford, California, United States

Stephen Perry, the lead vocalist of the rock band Journey, was named "The Voice" by legendary singer Jon Bon Jovi. One of Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Singers of All Time,” Perry also had a successful solo career. He is part of the Songwriter's and Rock and Roll Halls of Fame.

Francis Bacon

Listed In: Intellectuals & Academics

Birth Year: 1561

Birthplace: The Strand, London, England

Died: 1626

Francis Bacon was a Renaissance philosopher and author who was known as the Father of Empiricism, because of his belief in the scientific method and theory that scientific knowledge can only be created through inductive reasoning and experience. He was later knighted and served as the first Queen's counsel.

John Hurt

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1940

Birthplace: Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England, UK

Died: 2017

John Hurt is best remembered for his Academy Award-nominated performances in Midnight Express and The Elephant Man. His death scene in Alien is considered one of the most memorable in history. He lent his voice to The Lord of The Rings and appeared in the Harry Potter and Hellboy films.

Bill Bixby

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1934

Birthplace: San Francisco, California, United States

Died: 1993

Actor/director/game-show panelist Bill Bixby is best known as Tim O'Hara from My Favorite Martian, as Anthony Blake from The Magician, and as Dr. David Banner from The Incredible Hulk. He has also delivered Emmy-nominated performances in the series Rich Man, Poor Man and The Courtship of Eddie's Father.

Philip Hamilton

Listed In: Miscellaneous

Birth Year: 1782

Birthplace: Albany, New York, United States

Died: 1801

The eldest child of Alexander Hamilton—one of the founding fathers of the USA—Philip Hamilton was an intelligent student and the pride of his father. His young life came to end following a deadly duel with lawyer, George Eacker, who made offensive remarks about Alexander Hamilton. Alexander Hamilton, himself, lost his life in a similar manner three years later.

Linda Blair

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1959

Birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri, United States

Height: 5'2" (157 cm)

Gabriel Macht

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1972

Birthplace: New York, New York, United States

The son of actor Stephen Macht, Gabriel Macht followed in his father's footsteps to become a popular actor and film producer in his own right. A vegetarian who practices green living, Gabriel Macht was one of the guests at Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.

Afeni Shakur

Listed In: Activists

Birth Year: 1947

Birthplace: Lumberton, North Carolina, United States

Died: 2016

Afeni Shakur was a political activist best known as the mother of legendary rapper Tupac Shakur. Afeni Shakur was an important member of the popular political organization Black Panther Party where she mentored new members like Jamal Joseph, Dhoruba Bin-Wahad, and Cleo Silvers.

Antonio Gramsci

Listed In: Intellectuals & Academics

Birth Year: 1891

Birthplace: Ales, Italy

Died: 1937

Antonio Gramsci was an Italian politician, journalist, philosopher, linguist, and writer. A founding member of the Communist Party of Italy, Gramsci went on to serve as the leader of the party before he was arrested by Benito Mussolini's Fascist regime. Since his death, Antonio Gramsci has been the subject of several plays and films.

Piper Laurie

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1932

Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States

Actress Piper Laurie is best known for her role in the film The Hustler, for which she received an Academy Award nomination. In a career spanning seven decades, she has appeared in numerous award-winning films and TV shows. She is also a sculptor working in marble and clay. She is a recipient of  “The Spirit of Hope Award.”

DJ Jazzy Jeff

Listed In: Musicians

Birth Year: 1965

Birthplace: Philadelphia

Height: 5'10" (178 cm)

Greg Oden

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birth Year: 1988

Birthplace: Buffalo, New York, United States

Height: 7'0" (213 cm)

Sami Gayle

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1996

Birthplace: Florida, United States

Height: 5'4" (163 cm)

Steven Adler

Listed In: Musicians

Birth Year: 1965

Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Height: 5'7" (170 cm)

Diana Douglas

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1923

Birthplace: Devonshire, Bermuda

Died: 2015

U Thant

Listed In: Miscellaneous

Birth Year: 1909

Birthplace: Pantanaw, Burma

Died: 1974

Burmese diplomat U Thant made history by becoming the first non-Scandinavian to be named the UN secretary-general. Later in life, he tried applying Buddhist principles such as detachment to solve major international conflicts. Following his death in New York, his burial in Burma became a source of riots.

Orianthi

Listed In: Singers

Birth Year: 1985

Birthplace: Adelaide, Australia

Named one among the 12 Greatest Female Electric Guitarists by Elle magazine, Australian musician, singer and songwriter Orianthi Penny Panagaris began playing the guitar at the age of three and moved to acoustic by six. At fifteen, she began her professional career, concurrently focusing on songwriting and released her debut independent album at the age of 20. 

John Donne

Listed In: Writers

Birth Year: 1572

Birthplace: London, England

Died: 1631

English metaphysical poet John Donne is best known for his touch of sensuality and spirituality in his poems. One of his best-known poems is The Canonization. He had also worked on Latin translations, elegies, sermons, and epigrams. He was known for his reckless lifestyle, that affected his financial status. 

John Wesley Shipp

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1955

Birthplace: Norfolk, Virginia, USA

Height: 6'1" (185 cm)

Beverley Mitchell

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1981

Birthplace: Arcadia, California, USA

Height: 5'2" (157 cm)

Olivia d'Abo

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1969

Birthplace: London, England

Height: 5'6" (168 cm)

Balthazar Getty

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1975

Birthplace: Tarzana, California, United States

Balthazar Getty is an American musician and actor best known for playing Tommy Walker in the family drama television series Brothers & Sisters. Over the years, he has been an important member of the popular indie rock band Ringside. Also a humanitarian, Balthazar Getty works closely with a non-profit organization called The Lunchbox Fund.

Ann Sothern

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1909

Birthplace: Valley City, North Dakota, United States

Died: 2001

Height: 5'1" (155 cm)

D. W. Griffith

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1875

Birthplace: Crestwood, Kentucky, United States

Died: 1948

Malcolm McLaren

Listed In: Musicians

Birth Year: 1946

Birthplace: Stoke Newington

Died: 2010

Lev Landau

Listed In: Scientists

Birth Year: 1908

Birthplace: Baku, Azerbaijan

Died: 1968

Nobel Prize-winning Russian physicist Lev Landau is remembered for his pathbreaking research in quantum mechanics. A math prodigy, he had learned calculus at 13. He failed to receive his Nobel in person due to a near-fatal car crash which caused him injuries that eventually caused his death 6 years later.

Willa Ford

Listed In: Musicians

Birth Year: 1981

Birthplace: Ruskin, Florida, United States

Height: 5'7" (170 cm)

Christopher Masterson

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1980

Birthplace: Long Island, New York, United States

Actor Christopher Masterson is best known for playing the protagonist Malcolm's eldest brother Francis in the TV series Malcolm in the Middle. Although his parents are not involved in the show business, he and his siblings are all actors. In the 2010s, he ventured into deejaying as well. He is a follower of Scientology.

Mike Bossy

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birth Year: 1957

Birthplace: Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Died: 2022

Height: 6'0" (183 cm)

Daniel Johnston

Listed In: Musicians

Birth Year: 1961

Birthplace: Sacramento, California, USA

Robert E. Howard

Listed In: Writers

Birth Year: 1906

Birthplace: Peaster

Died: 1936

Namrata Shirodkar

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1972

Birthplace: Mumbai

Height: 5'7" (170 cm)

George Balanchine

Listed In: Dancers

Birth Year: 1904

Birthplace: St. Petersburg, Russia

Died: 1983

George Balanchine was a Georgian-American ballet choreographer. One of the most prominent choreographers of the 20th century, Balanchine won several prestigious awards like the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1983. Referred to as the father of American ballet, Balanchine is credited with co-founding the New York City Ballet. He was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1988.

August Strindberg

Listed In: Writers

Birth Year: 1849

Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden

Died: 1912

August Strindberg was a Swedish playwright, painter, essayist, novelist, and poet. He wrote over 30 works of fiction and more than 60 plays in an illustrious career that spanned 40 years. Widely regarded as the father of modern Swedish literature, Strindberg is best remembered for his work The Red Room, which is considered the first modern Swedish novel.

Seymour Cassel

Listed In: Miscellaneous

Birth Year: 1935

Birthplace: Detroit

Died: 2019

Netta Barzilai

Listed In: Singers

Birth Year: 1993

Birthplace: Hod HaSharon, Israel

Eurovision Contest-winning Israeli artist Netta Barzilai won hearts with her track Toy, a song that spoke of women empowerment. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she experimented with a podcast and performances from the balcony of her Tel Aviv apartment. She also performed the track Cuckoo for an online Eurovision event.

Sergei Eisenstein

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1898

Birthplace: Riga, Latvia

Died: 1948

Known for his use of the montage as a leading element in his films, Soviet filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein of Battleship Potemkin and Ivan the Terrible fame was also fond of close-up shots. He often used an ensemble of amateur actors and also included haiku-inspired elements in his work.

Bhuvan Bam

Listed In: YouTubers

Birth Year: 1994

Birthplace: Delhi, India

Height: 5'7" (170 cm)

Tully Blanchard

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birth Year: 1954

Birthplace: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Height: 5'10" (178 cm)

Conrad Veidt

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1893

Birthplace: Berlin, Germany

Died: 1943

Ironically, though he and his wife fled from Nazi Germany to Britain, actor Conrad Veidt was cast as a Nazi villain in quite a few films. Best known for his roles in Casablanca and The Thief of Baghdad, he died playing his favorite sport, golf, at an LA golf course. 

Graham Kerr

Listed In: Food Experts

Birth Year: 1934

Birthplace: London, England

Fan Zhendong

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birth Year: 1997

Birthplace: Guangzhou, Guangdong, China

Chinese table tennis player Fan Zhendong currently holds the number one position in men’s singles. In a personal statement on his fan forum on Sina Weibo, he mentioned how he hates extreme fan reactions. In 2012, he was the youngest member of the Chinese national table tennis team.

Jeff Smith

Listed In: Writers

Birth Year: 1939

Birthplace: Tacoma, Washington, United States

Died: 2004

Dixie Dean

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birth Year: 1907

Birthplace: Birkenhead, England

Died: 1980

Height: 5'10" (178 cm)

Hjalmar Schacht

Listed In: Intellectuals & Academics

Birth Year: 1877

Birthplace: Tinglev, Denmark

Died: 1970

German banker Hjalmar Schacht was appreciated for his role in saving the Weimar Republic from inflation and later served as the Reichsminister of Economics under Adolf Hitler. Following as assassination attempt on Hitler, her was imprisoned, but was later freed and then set up his own bank in Düsseldorf.