Famous People Born Today

Roald Dahl

Listed In: Writers

Birth Year: 1916

Birthplace: Llandaff, Cardiff, Wales

Died: 1990

British writer, Roald Dahl, is considered as one of the greatest children’s authors. He is one of the best-selling authors of all-time and had a career spanning decades. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, The Witches, The Twits and Matilda are some of his classic works. He also wrote short stories and novels meant for adults.

Tyler Perry

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1969

Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

The amazingly talented, Tyler Perry, is an American actor who topped Forbes list of highest-paid man in entertainment in 2011. Perry is most known as the creator of the boisterous, African-American grandmother character, Madea, which he himself performs with great skill and artistry. From a homeless playwriter to having his own studio, Perry has surely achieved the evasive American dream.

Niall Horan

Listed In: Singers

Birth Year: 1993

Birthplace: Mullingar, Ireland

Niall Horan performed as part of the boyband One Direction, formed on The X Factor, till it went on a hiatus. He then launched his solo career with the album Flicker and hits such as This Town. He has marched for the BLM movement and has supported UNICEF's Soccer Aid.

Lili Reinhart

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1996

Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio, United States

A passion for performing arts since childhood led American film and TV actor Lili Pauline Reinhart to learn dancing for a decade and later embark on an acting career. She debuted with a short film For Today but gained attention with television series Riverdale. The actress has also battled with depression and is therefore an advocate of mental health issue.

Playboi Carti

Listed In: Singers

Birth Year: 1996

Birthplace: Riverdale, Georgia, United States

Mumble rapper Playboi Carti previously performed with Ethereal, using the pseudonym "Sir Cartier." He soared to fame with the Billboard Hot 100-charting tracks Woke Up Like and Magnolia. Described by GQ as the "leader of a youth style," he is known for his signature gothic fashion and quirky personality.

Thomas Müller

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birth Year: 1989

Birthplace: Weilheim in Oberbayern, Germany

Thomas Müller, who is a prominent member of the Germany national football team, is a versatile footballer; he can play at various positions, such as centre forward, left wing, and right wing. He played key roles in Germany's performance in the 2010 World Cup, Euro Cup 2012, 2014 World Cup, and 2018 World Cup.

Fiona Apple

Listed In: Musicians

Birth Year: 1977

Birthplace: New York City, United States

Height: 5'2" (157 cm)

Jean Smart

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1951

Birthplace: Seattle, Washington, United States

Active in the field of entertainment for over 40 years, actress Jean Smart began her career in regional theater. After finding much fame as a stage actress, she started taking up TV and film roles as well. She has given many critically acclaimed performances and is the winner of three Primetime Emmy Awards.

Richard Kiel

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1939

Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States

Died: 2014

Richard Kiel is best remembered for his towering frame of 7 feet 2 inches, which led him to play villainous roles such as Jaws in the James Bond films The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker. Fans also loved him for his iconic role of Mr. Larson in Happy Gilmore.

Jacqueline Bisset

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1944

Birthplace: Weybridge, Surrey, England

Height: 5'7" (170 cm)

Peter Cetera

Listed In: Musicians

Birth Year: 1944

Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States

Retired singer, songwriter, and bassist, Peter Cetera, first gained fame as an original member of the rock band Chicago. He later launched a successful solo career as well. He often collaborated with David Foster and Amy Grant over the course of his long career. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016. 

Rosemary Kennedy

Listed In: Miscellaneous

Birth Year: 1918

Birthplace: Brookline, Massachusetts, United States

Died: 2005

Rosemary Kennedy was the eldest daughter of Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. and sister of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy. A botched lobotomy conducted on her, to control her violent mood swings, rendered her unable to speak properly and paralyzed. Her family did not meet her for 20 years.

Ben Savage

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1980

Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States

Ben Savage is an American actor known for portraying Cory Matthews in Boy Meets World. After starting his career as a child artist, Ben Savage went on to establish himself as a successful adult actor in the TV industry. Also known for displaying his skills on stage, Savage won an Ovation Award for portraying Roddy Stern in the play Unexpected Tenderness.

Shane Warne

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birth Year: 1969

Birthplace: Victoria, Australia

Died: 2022

Shane Warne was a former Australian cricket player, best known for his leg-break bowling. Widely regarded as one of the greatest spin bowlers of all time, Warne was the second-highest wicket-taker in test cricket. He was also one of the most controversial cricketers. In 2013, Shane Warne was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.

John J. Pershing

Listed In: Leaders

Birth Year: 1860

Birthplace: Laclede, Missouri, United States

Died: 1948

John J. Pershing was a senior United States Army officer who served as the commander of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) in World War I. In his later years, he mentored generals who led the United States Army during World War II.  He was promoted to General of the Armies rank, the highest possible rank in the United States Army. 

Michael Johnson

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birth Year: 1967

Birthplace: Dallas, Texas, United States

Four-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Johnson remains the only man to win both the 200m and the 400m events in the same Olympics. He was the Track & Field News 1996 Athlete of the Year. In 2008, he returned his 2000 Olympic relay medal, as a teammate had taken performance-enhancing drugs.

David Mustaine

Listed In: Musicians

Birth Year: 1961

Birthplace: La Mesa

Dave Mustaine performed as the lead guitarist of the heavy metal band Metallica and later left the band due to substance abuse issues. He then co-founded Megadeth and performed as its lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. He also launched a metal festival named Gigantour. He is also a cancer survivor.

Fabio Cannavaro

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birth Year: 1973

Birthplace: Naples, Italy

Italian former football star Fabio Cannavaro was part of his country’s 2006 World Cup-winning team and now coaches the Chinese football club Guangzhou. He has won awards such as the Ballon d'Or and was the only defender to earn the FIFA World Player of the Year tag.

Stella McCartney

Listed In: Fashion

Birth Year: 1971

Birthplace: Lambeth

Fashion designer Stella McCartney is the daughter of Paul and Linda McCartney. An avid animal rights activist, she uses cruelty-free fabrics in her designs. She was the creative director for Britain at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. She has also won honors such as the VH1/Vogue Designer of the Year.

Barbara Bain

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1931

Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States

Barbara Bain is an American actress best known for playing Cinnamon Carter in the popular TV series Mission: Impossible, for which she received a Golden Globe Award nomination and three Primetime Emmy Awards. For her contribution to the American film and TV industry, Barbara Bain was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on April 28, 2016. 

Chris Hansen

Listed In: Media Personalities

Birth Year: 1959

Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States

Chris Hansen is an American YouTube personality and television journalist known for his work on the popular news magazine/reality legal show, Dateline NBC. The winner of eight Emmy Awards, Hansen's work on one of Dateline NBC's former segments To Catch a Predator, which focused on zeroing in on potential Internet sex predators, received much appreciation.

Milton S. Hershey

Listed In: Business People

Birth Year: 1857

Birthplace: Derry Township, Pennsylvania, United States

Died: 1945

Nell Carter

Listed In: Singers

Birth Year: 1948

Birthplace: Birmingham, Alabama, United States

Died: 2003

Height: 4'11" (150 cm)

Arnold Schoenberg

Listed In: Musicians

Birth Year: 1874

Birthplace: Leopoldstadt, Vienna, Austria

Died: 1951

Austrian-born composer Arnold Schoenberg was part of the German Expressionist Movement and led the Second Viennese School. Being Jewish, he was banned by the Nazis and later became an American citizen. Known for his twelve-tone technique, he coined the term developing variation and formed motifs without a centralized melodic idea.

Mel Tormé

Listed In: Musicians

Birth Year: 1925

Birthplace: Chicago

Died: 1999

Claudette Colbert

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1903

Birthplace: Saint-Mandé, France

Died: 1996

Claudette Colbert was an American actress best remembered for her performance in the 1934 romantic-comedy film It Happened One Night, which earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress. A versatile actress, Colbert achieved immense popularity in the 1930s and 1940s, during which she was one of the highest-paid stars. Colbert also received a Golden Globe Award during her career.

Goran Ivanisevic

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birth Year: 1971

Birthplace: Split, Croatia

The first Croat to win a Wimbledon men’s singles, Goran Ivanisevic also remains the only player to win the title on a wild card. His rankings improved dramatically from 125th to 16th after his Wimbledon triumph in 2001. Interestingly, the tennis star is also a skilled football player.

J. B. Priestley

Listed In: Writers

Birth Year: 1894

Birthplace: Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire, England

Died: 1984

Clara Wieck Schumann

Listed In: Musicians

Birth Year: 1819

Birthplace: Leipzig

Died: 1896

Clara Wieck Schumann was a German pianist, teacher, and composer. One of the most famous pianists of the Romantic era, Schumann changed the way concerts were conducted during her time and made a long-lasting impression as a pianist. She also influenced other pianists through her teaching; among her students were famous English pianist, Mathilde Verne.

Kevin Carter

Listed In: Media Personalities

Birth Year: 1960

Birthplace: Johannesburg, South Africa

Died: 1994

Kevin Carter was a South African photojournalist whose photograph titled the vulture and the little girl, which depicted the 1993 famine in Sudan, earned him the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography in 1994. Carter committed suicide in 1994 after suffering from depression. A book titled The Bang Bang Club, which was later made into a film, depicts his story.

Theodore Roosevelt Jr.

Listed In: Leaders

Birth Year: 1887

Birthplace: Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York, USA

Died: 1944

Don Bluth

Listed In: Miscellaneous

Birth Year: 1937

Birthplace: El Paso, Texas, USA

Height: 5'10" (178 cm)

Salva Kiir Mayardit

Listed In: Leaders

Birth Year: 1951

Birthplace: Bahr el Ghazal

Sudanese rebel leader Salva Kiir Mayardit became the first president of South Sudan. In 2020, he signed an agreement with opposition leader and current vice president Riek Machar to share power and create a unified government, putting an end to a brutal civil war that has seen mass rapes and murders.

Robbie Kay

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1995

Birthplace: Lymington, Hampshire, England

Height: 5'7" (170 cm)

Bill Monroe

Listed In: Musicians

Birth Year: 1911

Birthplace: Rosine, Kentucky, United States

Died: 1996

Darren Waller

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birth Year: 1992

Birthplace: Acworth, Georgia, United States

Height: 6'6" (198 cm)

Alberta Williams King

Listed In: Miscellaneous

Birth Year: 1904

Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Died: 1974

Bernie Williams

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birth Year: 1968

Birthplace: San Juan, Puerto Rico

Han Chae-young

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1980

Birthplace: Daegu, South Korea

Height: 5'8" (173 cm)

Snoh Aalegra

Listed In: Musicians

Birth Year: 1987

Birthplace: Uppsala, Sweden

Born Shahrzad Fooladi, to Iranian parents in Sweden, Snoh Aalegra had started writing songs by age 9 and signed with Sony at age 13. She changed her name after moving to the US and soared to fame with her chartbusting tracks such as I Want You Around and Find Someone Like You.

Alfonso Freeman

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1959

Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA

Height: 5'10" (178 cm)

Mae Questel

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1908

Birthplace: The Bronx, New York, USA

Died: 1998

Maurice Jarre

Listed In: Musicians

Birth Year: 1924

Birthplace: 5th arrondissement of Lyon, Lyon, France

Died: 2009

Louis Mandylor

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1966

Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia

Height: 5'9" (175 cm)

Jeff Ross

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1965

Birthplace: Springfield Township, Union County, New Jersey Springfield, New Jersey, U.S.

Height: 5'10" (178 cm)

Louise Lombard

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1970

Birthplace: Redbridge, London, England

Height: 5'7" (170 cm)

A. J. McCarron

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birth Year: 1990

Birthplace: Mobile, Alabama, United States

Height: 6'3" (190 cm)

Dick Haymes

Listed In: Singers

Birth Year: 1918

Birthplace: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Died: 1980

Dick Haymes was an Argentinian-Irish singer and actor whose popularity reached its peak during the 1940s and early 1950s. Haymes led a lavish lifestyle and was also popular among women; he was married six times to actresses and models like Joanne Dru, Rita Hayworth, and Nora Eddington. Haymes declared bankruptcy during early 1960s and experienced financial problems later in life.

Walter Reed

Listed In: Physicians

Birth Year: 1851

Birthplace: Belroi, Virginia, United States

Died: 1902

Walter Reed was a U.S. Army physician best remembered for leading a team which confirmed that yellow fever gets transmitted by a mosquito rather than by direct contact. His work went a long way in the fight against yellow fever.

Brad Johnson

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birth Year: 1968

Birthplace: Marietta, Georgia, United States

Height: 6'5" (196 cm)