Famous People Born Today

Selena

Listed In: Singers

Birth Year: 1971

Birthplace: Lake Jackson, Texas, United States

Died: 1995

Known as the queen of Tejano music, Selena became the most famous Mexican-American entertainers during the late 20th century, thanks to her contributions to fashion and music. She is one of the most influential Latin artists ever. Her rags-to-riches story, which includes struggle, fame, and finally death at the age of 23, was showcased in the 1997 film, Selena.

Charlie Chaplin

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1889

Birthplace: Walworth, London, England

Died: 1977

Cinema lovers around the world hold Charlie Chaplin in high esteem. One of the biggest stars of the silent film era and an icon, he left the audience in splits with his comedic performances. Even today, his performances in movies like Modern Times and The Gold Rush are considered classic. The legendary actor was also a writer, director and producer.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birth Year: 1947

Birthplace: New York, New York, United States

Retired basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a legendary NBA champion and its all-time leading scorer. Known for his trademark skyhook shot, he achieved remarkable feats during his career. Later, he pursued a successful writing and acting career and was even selected U.S. global cultural ambassador. The NBA star is also the proud recipient of the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Sadie Sink

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 2002

Birthplace: Brenham, Texas, United States

Sadie Sink is an American actress best known for playing Maxine Mayfield in the popular horror mystery-thriller television series Stranger Things, for which she received nominations at MTV Movie & TV Awards and Screen Actors Guild Awards. In 2018, she was honored with the Award of Excellence for Narration for her contribution to an animal rights documentary titled Dominion.

Chance the Rapper

Listed In: Singers

Birth Year: 1993

Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States

Chance the Rapper is best known for his Billboard-charting mixtape Coloring Book, which was the first streaming-only album to earn a Grammy. An avid social activist in Chicago, he owns the non-profit SocialWorks. He is known for his signature style of wearing a cap with the number "3" on it.

Martin Lawrence

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1965

Birthplace: Frankfurt, Germany

Martin Lawrence is a German born-American actor and comedian. Despite being traumatized after witnessing his parents' divorce at the age of eight, Lawrence went on to succeed as a comedian and later as a leading Hollywood actor. After a problematic 1990s, which included episodes of arrests, lawsuits, and health problems, he bounced back with several hit films.

Gina Carano

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1982

Birthplace: Dallas, Texas, United States

A former mixed martial artist, Gina Carano went on to become an actress; she uses her martial arts skills to perform stunts in popular action movies. Before becoming an actress, she was quite popular in the MMA scene, being termed the face of women's MMA. In 2008, she was named in a Top 10 Influential Women list.

Akon

Listed In: Singers

Birth Year: 1973

Birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri, United States

Akon is one of the most successful R&B, hip hop and rap singers in the world. His albums Trouble, Konvicted, Freedom, El Negreeto and Akonda have many chartbusters songs. He has also founded record labels Akonik Label Group, KonLive Distribution and Konvict Mizik. He courted controversy in 2007 for an onstage act involving simulated sex with a 15-year-old girl.

Dusty Springfield

Listed In: Singers

Birth Year: 1939

Birthplace: West Hampstead, London,England

Died: 1999

Height: 5'3" (160 cm)

Claire Foy

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1984

Birthplace: Stockport, England, United Kingdom

Height: 5'4" (163 cm)

Jon Cryer

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1965

Birthplace: New York City, New York

Jon Cryer is best known for his two-time Emmy-winning performance as Alan Harper in Two and a Half Men and his Saturn Award-nominated role of Lex Luthor in DC series such as Supergirl, Batwoman, and Arrow. He has been a successful stage actor and has also appeared in NCIS.

Shu Qi

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1976

Birthplace: Xindian District, Taipei, Taiwan

Shu Qi is a Taiwanese-Hong Kong model and actress best known for playing Nie Yinniang in the critically acclaimed 2015 film, The Assassin, for which she received the prestigious Asian Film Award. Starting from 2013, Shu Qi was named in three successive Forbes China Celebrity 100 lists. She is also one of the highest-paid Taiwanese-Hong Kong actresses.

Nate Diaz

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birth Year: 1985

Birthplace: Stockton, California, United States

Nate Diaz is an American mixed martial artist with experience of competing in several promotions, such as Strikeforce, World Extreme Cagefighting, and Pancrase. He is currently signed with the UFC and is tied with Joseph Edward Lauzon Jr. for the second-most bonus awards. In 2007, Nate Diaz took part in the fifth season of the reality TV series Ultimate Fighter.

Peter Ustinov

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1921

Birthplace: Swiss Cottage, London, England

Died: 2004

Peter Ustinov was a British actor, writer, and filmmaker. An intellectual, Ustinov held several academic posts and served as the president of the World Federalist Movement. Over the course of his illustrious career, Peter Ustinov won many prestigious awards, such as the Golden Globes, Emmy Awards, Academy Awards, Grammy Awards, and BAFTA Awards.

Ellen Barkin

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1954

Birthplace: Bronx, New York, United States

Bill Belichick

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birth Year: 1952

Birthplace: Nashville, Tennessee, United States

Height: 5'11" (180 cm)

Peter Billingsley

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1971

Birthplace: New York, New York, United States

Peter Billingsley was a popular child actor, famous for his portrayal of Messy Marvin in Hershey's chocolate syrup ads. He also delivered a Young Artist Award-winning performance as Jack Simmons in The Dirt Bike Kid. He later directed and produced shows such as Sullivan & Son and played minor roles.

Gerry Rafferty

Listed In: Musicians

Birth Year: 1947

Birthplace: Paisley

Died: 2011

Henry Mancini

Listed In: Musicians

Birth Year: 1924

Birthplace: Little Italy, Ohio, United States

Died: 1994

Luol Deng

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birth Year: 1985

Birthplace: Wau

Spike Milligan

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1918

Birthplace: Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India

Died: 2002

Spike Milligan was a British-Irish actor, writer, poet, comedian, and playwright. He is credited with co-creating and writing the popular radio comedy program, The Goon Show. His comic novel Puckoon has been adapted into a film and stage play. In August 1999, BBC conducted a poll, according to which Spike was voted the funniest person of the last millennium.

David Graf

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1950

Birthplace: Zanesville, Ohio, United States

Died: 2001

David Graf is best known as Sgt. Eugene Tackleberry from the Police Academy film franchise. He has appeared in series such as Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman and The West Wing, too. He has also been part of the Screen Actors Guild national board.

Tom Segura

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1979

Birthplace: Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.

John Franklin

Listed In: Miscellaneous

Birth Year: 1786

Birthplace: Spilsby, England

Died: 1847

Midori Francis

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1994

Birthplace: Rumson, New Jersey, United States

Liliana Mumy

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1994

Birthplace: San Marcos, California, United States

Liliana Mumy, daughter of actor Bill Mumy, is best known as Jessica Baker from the Cheaper by the Dozen franchise and Lucy Miller from The Santa Clause trilogy. She also voiced Mertle Edmonds in the Lilo & Stitch movie franchise and various characters in The Loud House and other series.

Bobby Vinton

Listed In: Singers

Birth Year: 1935

Birthplace: Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, United States

Height: 6'8" (203 cm)

Edie Adams

Listed In: Business People

Birth Year: 1927

Birthplace: Kingston, Pennsylvania, USA

Died: 2008

Height: 5'6" (168 cm)

Reggie Jackson

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birth Year: 1990

Birthplace: Pordenone, Italy

Height: 6'2" (188 cm)

Lorraine Nicholson

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1990

Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States

Lorraine Nicholson, daughter of actors Jack Nicholson and Rebecca Broussard, is best known as Alana Blanchard from the biographical film Soul Surfer. She started her career as a child actor in Something's Gotta Give, which also stared her father. She has also directed short films such as Life Boat.

Brynn Cartelli

Listed In: Singers

Birth Year: 2003

Birthplace: Longmeadow, Massachusetts

Barry Nelson

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1917

Birthplace: San Francisco, California, USA

Died: 2007

Height: 5'11" (180 cm)

Jay O. Sanders

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1953

Birthplace: Austin, Texas, USA

Height: 6'4" (193 cm)

Pope Benedict XVI

Listed In: Spiritual & Religious Leaders

Birth Year: 1927

Birthplace: Markit, Germany

Pope Benedict XVI started off as a Hitler Youth member, but a finger injury prevented him from fighting in the German army. In 2005, he became the head of the Catholic Church. The liberal theologian-turned-conservative resigned in 2013, becoming the first pope to do so since the 1400s.

Phoebe Fox

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1987

Birthplace: Hammersmith, London, United Kingdom

Phoebe Fox is an English actress known for playing Marial in the comedy-drama television series The Great. The daughter of Prue Clarke and Stuart Fox, Phoebe Fox followed in the footsteps of her parents to establish herself in the entertainment industry. Apart from playing important roles in films and TV series, Fox is also known for her work in theatre.

Night Train Lane

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birth Year: 1928

Birthplace: Austin, Texas, United States

Died: 2002

Height: 6'1" (185 cm)

Belinda Stewart-Wilson

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1971

Birthplace: Kensington, London, England

Height: 5'7" (170 cm)

Lara Dutta

Listed In: Miscellaneous

Birth Year: 1978

Birthplace: Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India

Height: 5'8" (173 cm)

Kingsley Amis

Listed In: Writers

Birth Year: 1922

Birthplace: Clapham, London, England

Died: 1995

Peter Garrett

Listed In: Musicians

Birth Year: 1953

Birthplace: Wahroonga, Australia

Peter Garrett is an Australian musician, activist, environmentalist, and former politician. Renowned for his eccentric dance style and signature bald head, Garrett is best known for his association with the popular rock band Midnight Oil where he performs as the lead singer. A football fan, Peter Garrett supports the Essendon Bombers of the AFL.

Jimmy Osmond

Listed In: Musicians

Birth Year: 1963

Birthplace: Canoga Park, Los Angeles, California, United States

Merce Cunningham

Listed In: Dancers

Birth Year: 1919

Birthplace: Centralia, Washington

Died: 2009

American dancer and choreographer Merce Cunningham was at the forefront of American modern dance for more than 50 years. Cunningham was honoured with Japan's Praemium Imperiale and a British Laurence Olivier Award. He was also named Officier of the Légion d'honneur in France. A documentary titled Cunningham was made on his life in 2019.

Te'a Cooper

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birth Year: 1997

Birthplace: New Jersey, United States

Height: 5'8" (173 cm)

K'naan

Listed In: Musicians

Birth Year: 1978

Birthplace: Mogadishu, Banaadir, Somalia

K'naan is the stage name of Keinan Abdi Warsame, a Somali Canadian rapper, singer-songwriter, and instrumentalist. He rose to fame when his single Wavin' Flag was chosen as Coca-Cola's promotional anthem for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He is committed to his Somali roots and is considered a spokesperson for the Toronto Somali community.