Famous People Born Today

Snoop Dogg

Listed In: Singers

Birth Year: 1971

Birthplace: Long Beach, California, United States

Snoop Dogg is a famous American rapper whose life is a perfect example of rags-to-riches story. As a child, he did various odd jobs to help his family make ends meet. He started rapping as a young boy to distract himself from his unstable family life. He ran into trouble with the law as a teenager. However, once he released his debut album, there was no looking back.

John Krasinski

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1979

Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, United States

The charming actor John Krasinski is best recognised for playing Jim Halpert in the famous American television show, The Office. Apart from working in numerous other film and television projects as well as commercials, John Krasinski further cemented his position in the entertainment world by branching out into writing, producing and directing movies like The Promised Land and The Hollars.

NBA YoungBoy

Listed In: Singers

Birth Year: 1999

Birthplace: Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States

NBA YoungBoy is an American singer, songwriter, and rapper. He garnered a cult following between 2015 and 2017, during which he released eight successful, independent mixtapes. Rated highly among America's most controversial rappers, NBA YoungBoy has been arrested on a couple of occasions for charges, including attempted first degree murder.

Tom Petty

Listed In: Musicians

Birth Year: 1950

Birthplace: Gainesville, Florida, United States

Died: 2017

A rock icon and creator of sprit-lifting songs, Thomas Earl Petty was one of the defining musicians of the 1970s and the lead vocalist and guitarist of the band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Writing songs and creating music up till his last breath, Petty is noted for positivity and self- liberation themed songs, a rarity in rock music.

Kamala Harris

Listed In: Leaders

Birth Year: 1964

Birthplace: Oakland, California, United States

A Democrat politician and lawyer, Kamala Harris is the vice president-elect of the United States. She will assume the office on 20 January 2021, alongside President-elect Joe Biden. Half-Indian, half-Jamaican, Harris is the first woman, the first Black person and the first Asian-American to be elected vice president.

Viggo Mortensen

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1958

Birthplace: Watertown, New York, United States

Danish-American actor, Viggo Mortensen, is best known for portraying the role of Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Some of his other films are A History of Violence, Eastern Promises, Captain Fantastic and Green Book. He is also an author of various books on poetry, photography and painting.

Mickey Mantle

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birth Year: 1931

Birthplace: Spavinaw, Oklahoma, United States

Died: 1995

Professional baseball player Mickey Mantle played his entire Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the New York Yankees. He played as a center fielder, right fielder, and first baseman. Regarded by many as the greatest switch hitter in baseball history, he won the Triple Crown in 1956 and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.

Candice Swanepoel

Listed In: Fashion

Birth Year: 1988

Birthplace: Mooi River, South Africa

Candice Swanepoel is a South African model known for her association with Victoria's Secret. In 2016, Swanepoel was ranked eighth among the top-earning models, according to Forbes. Also known for her charity work, Swanepoel works closely with mothers2mothers, a nonprofit organization that aims at averting mother-to-child transmission of HIV by providing support and education for pregnant women living with HIV.

William Zabka

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1965

Birthplace: New York, United States

William Zabka is an actor best known for his role as Johnny Lawrence in the film The Karate Kid. He started attending California State University but quit before completing his degree. He began his acting career in the mid-1980s and established himself in Hollywood within a few years. He turned a producer with the short film Most in 2003.

Jerry Orbach

Listed In: Singers

Birth Year: 1935

Birthplace: Bronx, New York, United States

Died: 2004

Height: 6'2" (188 cm)

Bela Lugosi

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1882

Birthplace: Lugoj, Romania

Died: 1956

Hungarian-American actor Bela Lugosi is best remembered for his iconic performance as Dracula on Broadway and in the 1931 film of the same name, based on Bram Stoker’s novel. He also appeared in films such as The Black Cat, The Raven, and Son of Frankenstein, along with Boris Karloff.

Arthur Rimbaud

Listed In: Writers

Birth Year: 1854

Birthplace: Charleville-Mézières, France

Died: 1891

French poet Arthur Rimbaud is remembered for his influence on Dadaism, surrealism, and symbolism. Known for works such as Le Soleil Etait Encore Chaud and Voyelles, he later got involved in a relationship with poet Paul Verlaine. He also traveled as a merchant and explorer, before dying of cancer.

Jess Glynne

Listed In: Singers

Birth Year: 1989

Birthplace: Hampstead, London, England

Jess Glynne, named one of Forbes’s Most Influential People Under 30 in 2019, initially rose to fame as a featured artist on tracks such as Rather Be and My Love. She became the first British female solo singer with seven number one UK Singles Chart tracks.

Scott Hall

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birth Year: 1958

Birthplace: St. Mary's County, Maryland, United States

Died: 2022

Scott Hall is an American retired wrestler best known for his association with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) where he is popularly known as Razor Ramon. Apart from his several championship reigns in WWE, Scott Hall is also renowned for being an original member of the New World Order, one of the most popular stables in the history of professional wrestling.

William Christopher

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1932

Birthplace: Evanston, Illinois, United States

Died: 2016

William Christopher was an American comedian and actor remembered for playing important roles in popular TV series, such as M*A*S*H, AfterMASH, and Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. Also known for his charity work, Christopher devoted his free time to the National Autistic Society, a British charity for autistic people. In 1985, he co-wrote Mixed Blessings, a memoir about raising his autistic son.

Dannii Minogue

Listed In: Singers

Birth Year: 1971

Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia

The younger sister of Australian popstar Kylie Minogue, Dannii Minogue had begun her career on Australian TV as a child actor. Known for her award-winning role of Emma Jackson in the soap Home and Away, she later also launched a music career, appeared in movies and plays, and introduced a clothing line.

John Dewey

Listed In: Intellectuals & Academics

Birth Year: 1859

Birthplace: Burlington, Vermont, United States

Died: 1952

A staunch advocate of progressive education and liberalism, the American philosopher and psychologist was the founder of the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. John Dewey’s famous writings included The Reflex Arc Concept in Psychology and Human Nature and Conduct. According to him, passion for knowledge and intellectual curiosity were central to a teacher. He called himself a democratic socialist.

Paige Bueckers

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birth Year: 2001

Birthplace: Edina, Minnesota, United States

Height: 5'11" (180 cm)

Julie Payette

Listed In: Miscellaneous

Birth Year: 1963

Birthplace: Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Canadian engineer and astronaut Julie Payette has been the Governor General of Canada from 2017 to 2021. She was initially a research scientist and then joined the Canadian Space Agency, eventually completing two spaceflights. Payette resigned as governor general after a workplace review accused her of workplace harassment.

Michelle Malkin

Listed In: Media Personalities

Birth Year: 1970

Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Michelle Malkin is an American blogger, author, political commentator, and businesswoman. Her weekly syndicated column gets featured in several websites and newspapers. Apart from writing four books and contributing to TV channels, such as Fox News, Michelle Malkin is also credited with founding the conservative websites Hot Air and Twitchy.

Danny Boyle

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1956

Birthplace: Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, England

Danny Boyle is best known for his Academy Award-winning movie Slumdog Millionaire. He also amazed audiences with his deft direction in Trainspotting, 127 Hours, and 28 Days Later. He won a BAFTA with his debut film, Shallow Grave. He was the artistic director of the 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony.

Tommy Douglas

Listed In: Leaders

Birth Year: 1904

Birthplace: Camelon, Falkirk, Scotland

Died: 1986

Tommy Douglas was a Scottish Canadian politician. From 1944 to 1961, he served as premier of Saskatchewan. His cabinet was the first to introduce North America's first single-payer, universal health care program. His life and career inspired a TV miniseries titled Prairie Giant: The Tommy Douglas Story, in which Douglas was played by actor Michael Therriault.

Alona Tal

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1983

Birthplace: Herzliya, Israel

Alona Tal is an Israeli actress known for playing supporting roles in popular American TV series like Veronica Mars and Supernatural. Tal is also known for her singing skills; she has recorded a song with popular Haitian rapper and musician Wyclef Jean. She has also appeared in several American films like Half Past Dead 2, Broken City, and Opening Night.

Sam Witwer

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1977

Birthplace: Glenview, Illinois, USA

Height: 6'1" (185 cm)

Kenneth Choi

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1971

Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States

Height: 5'6" (168 cm)

Jomo Kenyatta

Listed In: Leaders

Birth Year: 1893

Birthplace: Gatundu, Kenya

Died: 1978

After being held as a prisoner by the British for 9 years, anti-colonial activist Jomo Kenyatta was released shortly before Kenya achieved its independence, and became the country’s first prime minister and then its first president. The Father of the Nation, Kenyatta was also named Mzee, meaning “grand old man.”

Earl Hindman

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1942

Birthplace: Bisbee, Arizona, USA

Died: 2003

Height: 6'2" (188 cm)

Bill Nunn

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1953

Birthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Died: 2016

Height: 6'3" (190 cm)

Niall Matter

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1980

Birthplace: Edmonton, Canada

Canadian actor Niall Matter ventured into acting after a deadly accident at the oil rig he worked at led to his right led being almost amputated at 25. He debuted with The Best Years and gained fame as Zane Donovan in Eureka and as Evan Cross in Primeval: New World.

Claudio Ranieri

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birth Year: 1951

Birthplace: Rome

Claudio Ranieri is an Italian football manager and the current head coach of Sampdoria, a football club which competes in Serie A. As a manager, Ranieri has won several honors, such as the 2016 LMA Manager of the Year and the Best FIFA Men's Coach. A former player, Ranieri was inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame in 2016.

James Chadwick

Listed In: Scientists

Birth Year: 1891

Birthplace: Bollington

Died: 1974

Best remembered as a Nobel laureate who discovered neutron, Sir James Chadwick began his career at Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge, where he worked with Ernest Rutherford to investigate the nature of atomic nucleus, a work that led to the epoch-making discovery. Credited with writing the final draft of the MAUD Report, he also headed the British team at the Manhattan Project

Dan Fogler

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1976

Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, USA

Height: 5'7" (170 cm)

Grandpa Jones

Listed In: Musicians

Birth Year: 1913

Birthplace: Niagara

Died: 1998

Arlene Francis

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1907

Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Died: 2001

Nargis Fakhri

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1979

Birthplace: Queens, New York, USA

Height: 5'7" (170 cm)

Dolores Hart

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1938

Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA

Height: 5'5" (165 cm)

Sir Christopher Wren

Listed In: Scientists

Birth Year: 1632

Birthplace: East Knoyle

Died: 1723

Architect Sir Christopher Wren had built over 50 churches in London, the most popular of them being the St. Paul’s Cathedral. He was a major force behind the formation of the Royal Society and was also knighted for his achievements. He was also a member of the English Parliament.

Chavo Guerrero Jr.

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birth Year: 1970

Birthplace: El Paso, Texas, United States

Height: 5'9" (175 cm)

Keith Hernandez

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birth Year: 1953

Birthplace: San Francisco, California, USA

Height: 6'0" (183 cm)

Ian Rush

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birth Year: 1961

Birthplace: St Asaph

Height: 5'11" (180 cm)

Jelly Roll Morton

Listed In: Musicians

Birth Year: 1890

Birthplace: Gulfport

Died: 1941

Thomas Newman

Listed In: Musicians

Birth Year: 1955

Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States

Height: 5'10" (178 cm)

Sunny Hostin

Listed In: Media Personalities

Birth Year: 1968

Birthplace: New York, New York, United States

Sunny Hostin is an American journalist, lawyer, and television host. She is best known for co-hosting the popular talk show, The View, for which she has received four Daytime Emmy Award nominations so far. Before appearing on TV, Sunny Hostin served as a federal prosecutor; for successfully prosecuting sex offenders, Hostin was honored with a Special Achievement Award.

Eddie Jones

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birth Year: 1971

Birthplace: Pompano Beach, Florida, United States

Height: 6'6" (198 cm)

Brennan Clost

Listed In: Dancers

Birth Year: 1994

Birthplace: Burlington, Canada

Brennan Clost is a Canadian dancer and actor best known for playing Daniel in the popular TV series, The Next Step. Clost started dancing competitively at the age of seven, winning several dance competitions. In 2012, he started studying at the Juilliard School before beginning his career as an actor.

Mitch Lucker

Listed In: Singers

Birth Year: 1984

Birthplace: Riverside, California, United States

Died: 2012

Mitch Lucker was an American singer and songwriter remembered for his work as the lead vocalist of the band Suicide Silence. A tattoo enthusiast, Mitch Lucker was known for his extensive collection of tattoos that covered his torso, arms, fingers, and neck. After his death at age 28, his bandmates established the Kenadee Lucker Education Fund to benefit his daughter.