Famous People Born Today

Zoe Saldana

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1978

Birthplace: Passaic, New Jersey, United States

American actress, Zoe Saldana, is best known for starring in fantasy-adventure films like Star Trek, Avatar, Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, which were massive worldwide hits. She faced flak in 2016 when she used skin-darkening makeup to play jazz musician Nina Simone in the biopic Nina, which led to debates about colour bias in society.

Aung San Suu Kyi

Listed In: Leaders

Birth Year: 1945

Birthplace: Yangon, Myanmar (Burma)

Aung San Suu Kyi is a Burmese politician and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. She is credited with co-founding the National League for Democracy, which eventually ended the rule of Myanmar's military junta. In 1999, she was named one of the Children of Gandhi by Time magazine for enduring almost 15 years of house arrest for the greater good of Myanmar.

Jared Padalecki

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1982

Birthplace: San Antonio, Texas, United States

Jared Padalecki is an American actor who has been open about his struggle with depression. The Always Keep Fighting campaign, which was launched by him in 2015, raised funds for To Write Love On Her Arms, a nonprofit organization that supports people struggling with addiction and depression. He also owns a '90s-themed bar called Stereotype, in Austin, Texas.

Jose Rizal

Listed In: Leaders

Birth Year: 1861

Birthplace: Calamba, Laguna

Died: 1896

Jose Rizal was a Filipino polymath and nationalist. An ophthalmologist by profession, Rizal turned towards writing and inspired the Philippine Revolution through his writings. The revolution eventually led to Philippine independence and Rizal became a national hero. His life has inspired several biographical films and TV series.

Paula Abdul

Listed In: Singers

Birth Year: 1962

Birthplace: San Fernando, California, United States

Starting her career as a cheerleader, Paula Abdul went on to choreograph music videos for Janet Jackson. She then tried her hand at singing-songwriting and released a highly successful debut studio album. Also an award-winning actress, Paula was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She has also appeared in TV shows like American Idol.

Macklemore

Listed In: Singers

Birth Year: 1983

Birthplace: Kent, Washington, United States

Rapper Macklemore shot to fame as part of the duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. They were the first duo in Billboard Hot 100 chart history to have their first two singles, Thrift Shop and Can't Hold Us, featured at the number one position. They won four Grammys in 2014.

Kathleen Turner

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1954

Birthplace: Brampton, Ontario, Canada

Kathleen Turner is best known for her Academy Award-nominated role in Peggy Sue Got Married. She also played Chandler's drag queen father in Friends and voiced Jessica Rabbit in the Disney movie Who Framed Roger Rabbit? She has also delivered Tony-winning Broadway performances and promotes rheumatoid arthritis awareness.

Paul Dano

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1984

Birthplace: New York, New York, United States

Popular American stage and screen actor, Paul Dano is recognised for his performances in films like Little Miss Sunshine, L.I.E., There Will Be Blood and Love & Mercy as well as television miniseries Escape at Dannemora. The versatile actor, who began his career on stage as a child artist, has also ventured into direction and scriptwriting with the movie Wildlife.

Olajide Olatunji

Listed In: YouTubers

Birth Year: 1993

Birthplace: Watford, Hertfordshire

Olajide Olatunji, better known by his stage name KSI, is an English internet personality, actor, rapper, and boxer. He is credited with co-founding the popular YouTube group, The Sidemen. Regarded as one of the most influential online creators in the UK, Olatunji puts his fame to good use; he is involved in many charitable causes and is a prolific donator.

Moe Howard

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1897

Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States

Died: 1975

Moe Howard was an American comedian and actor best known for his role as the leader of one of the most popular farce comedy teams of all time, The Three Stooges. He appeared in several films as part of the comedy team and is credited with popularizing a distinctive hairstyle called a bowl cut.

Mia Sara

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1967

Birthplace: Brooklyn Heights, New York, United States

Mia Sara went on to become a successful actress through sheer hard work after being born to photographer parents. Mia Sara's story of grit, determination, and hard work has inspired several aspiring actors and actresses in the United States.

Phylicia Rashad

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1948

Birthplace: Houston, Texas, United States

Phylicia Rashad, the Mother of The Black Community, became the first Black lady to win the Tony Award for Best Actress, for her performance in A Raisin in the Sun. Known for her Emmy-nominated portrayal of Clair Huxtable on The Cosby Show, she also appeared in Colored Girls and Creed.

Laura Ingraham

Listed In: Media Personalities

Birth Year: 1963

Birthplace: Glastonbury, Connecticut, United States

Laura Ingraham is a well-known American journalist and television host. She holds a conservative position, is called a nationalist and has often generated controversy for her stand on various issues. She is the host of The Ingraham Angle on Fox News television channel, which is a high-rated opinion-based show. She hosted The Laura Ingraham Show on radio from 2001 to 2018.

Salman Rushdie

Listed In: Writers

Birth Year: 1947

Birthplace: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Salman Rushdie is a British Indian novelist whose work Midnight's Children is widely considered the best novel of all Booker Prize winners. In 2007, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to literature. In 2008, he was ranked 13th in the 50 greatest British writers since 1945 list published by The Times.

Dirk Nowitzki

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birth Year: 1978

Birthplace: Würzburg, Germany

The 7-foot-tall former Dallas Mavericks power forward Dirk Nowitzki led his team to 15 NBA play-offs, including their only NBA championship, in 2011. He is the only player to continue with a single NBA team for 21 seasons and first European-born to be the NBA Finals MVP.

Poppy Montgomery

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1972

Birthplace: Sydney, Australia

Poppy Montgomery is an Australian-American actress best known for playing FBI agent Samantha Spade in the popular police procedural drama TV series, Without a Trace. Quite an adventurer, Montgomery dropped out of school at age 15 to pursue a career in stage acting. She moved to the US at age 18 and went on to establish herself as an actress.

Ann Wilson

Listed In: Singers

Birth Year: 1950

Birthplace: San Diego, California, United States

Height: 5'7" (170 cm)

Jordan Poole

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birth Year: 1999

Birthplace: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States

Height: 6'5" (196 cm)

Gena Rowlands

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1930

Birthplace: Cambria, Wisconsin, United States

Died: 2024

Gena Rowlands had an expansive screen and stage career spanning over six-decades. Her remarkable performances won her several accolades including four Emmy and two Golden Globe awards and an Honorary Academy Award. Two of her memorable performances includes in films A Woman Under the Influence and Gloria, both written-directed by her late-husband John Cassavetes and earned her Academy Award nominations.

Hugh Dancy

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1975

Birthplace: Stoke-on-Trent, England

Hugh Dancy is an English actor who achieved popularity after playing the titular character in David Copperfield, the TV film adaptation of Charles Dickens' novel of the same name. Apart from appearing in films and TV series, Hugh Dancy has also been contributing as a theatre actor since 1999.

Lou Gehrig

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birth Year: 1903

Birthplace: Yorkville, New York, United States

Died: 1941

Lou Gehrig was an American baseball player. Nicknamed The Iron Horse for his durability and prowess as a hitter, Lou Gehrig played for the New York Yankees of the Major League Baseball (MLB). His life and career inspired the 1942 film The Pride of the Yankees in which he was portrayed by actor Gary Cooper.

Blaise Pascal

Listed In: Scientists

Birth Year: 1623

Birthplace: Clermont-Ferrand, France

Died: 1662

Blaise Pascal was a French physicist, mathematician, philosopher, and inventor. A child prodigy, Pascal's work on projective geometry, at the age of 16 is commendable. He is one of the earliest inventors of the mechanical calculator, which he did when he was still a teenager. His work on probability theory influenced the development of social science and modern economics.

Tommy DeVito

Listed In: Singers

Birth Year: 1928

Birthplace: Belleville, New Jersey, United States

Died: 2020

Height: 5'8" (173 cm)

Ryan Hurst

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1976

Birthplace: Santa Monica, California, United States

Height: 6'4" (193 cm)

Robin Tunney

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1972

Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States

Height: 5'4" (163 cm)

Nick Drake

Listed In: Singers

Birth Year: 1948

Birthplace: Rangoon, Burma

Died: 1974

Nick Drake was a British singer-songwriter best remembered for his acoustic guitar-based music. Although he failed to achieve popularity during his lifetime, Drake's music has achieved recognition in recent times. He suffered from depression throughout his life and died at the age of 26 from an overdose of a prescribed antidepressant called amitriptyline.

Charles Spurgeon

Listed In: Miscellaneous

Birth Year: 1834

Birthplace: Kelvedon, England

Died: 1892

Charles Spurgeon was an English Particular Baptist preacher who was a powerful figure in the Reformed Baptist tradition. Hailed as the "Prince of Preachers", he was well respected by Christians of various denominations. He was pastor of the congregation of the New Park Street Chapel for almost four decades. He was the author of several books, sermons, and commentaries.

Nuno Mendes

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birth Year: 2002

Birthplace: Sintra, Portugal

Angolan-origin Portuguese footballer Nuno Mendes was 9 when he began playing football. Starting his senior career with Sporting CP, he later joined the French club Paris Saint-Germain, and has a Primeira Liga win with the former and a Ligue 1 win with the latter. He is known for his speed and technical finesse.

Lara Spencer

Listed In: Media Personalities

Birth Year: 1969

Birthplace: Garden City, New York, United States

Best known as the co-host of ABC’s Good Morning America, TV journalist and anchor Lara Spencer was a competitive diver in her early days. She has also hosted Antiques Roadshow and loves turning yard-sale goods into show-pieces. She has also authored books on designing homes with vintage artifacts.

Atticus Shaffer

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1998

Birthplace: Santa Clarita, California, USA

Height: 4'8" (142 cm)

Pat Buttram

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1915

Birthplace: Addison, Alabama, United States

Died: 1994

Height: 6'0" (183 cm)

Nancy Marchand

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1928

Birthplace: Buffalo, New York, USA

Died: 2000

Height: 5'10" (178 cm)

Jean Dujardin

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1972

Birthplace: Paris, France

Height: 6'0" (183 cm)

Louis Jourdan

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1921

Birthplace: Marseille, France

Died: 2015

Height: 6'1" (185 cm)

Scarlxrd

Listed In: Singers

Birth Year: 1994

Birthplace: Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England

Matthew Hussey

Listed In: YouTubers

Birth Year: 1987

Birthplace: Essex, England

British life/dating coach and YouTuber Matthew Hussey is also a self-help author who has penned the New York Times best-seller Get the Guy. He also made headlines for his relationship with Cuban-American singer Camila Cabello. He also offers online tutorials, has hosted his own radio show, and has appeared on several TV shows.

Charles Coburn

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1877

Birthplace: Macon, Georgia, United States

Died: 1961

Height: 6'0" (183 cm)

Kim Walker

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1968

Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States

Died: 2001

Mildred Natwick

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1905

Birthplace: Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Died: 1994

David Pollack

Listed In: Business People

Birth Year: 1982

Birthplace: Snellville, Georgia, United States

Height: 6'2" (188 cm)

C. J. Mosley

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birth Year: 1992

Birthplace: Theodore, Alabama, United States

Jacob deGrom

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birth Year: 1988

Birthplace: DeLand, Florida

Height: 6'4" (193 cm)

Shirley Muldowney

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birth Year: 1940

Birthplace: Burlington, Vermont, United States

The first woman to get an NHRA license to drive a Top Fuel dragster, Shirley Muldowney is known as The First Lady of Drag Racing. She was also the first woman to win three NHRA Top Fuel championships. She also owns a children’s charity and has had a biopic made on her life.

Lester Flatt

Listed In: Musicians

Birth Year: 1914

Birthplace: Overton County, Tennessee, United States

Died: 1979

Abe Fortas

Listed In: Miscellaneous

Birth Year: 1910

Birthplace: Memphis

Died: 1982

Mía Maestro

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birth Year: 1978

Birthplace: Buenos Aires

Mía Maestro is an Argentine singer, songwriter, and actress. She is best known for her portrayal of Lulu in the stage production of Frank Wedekind’s Pandora's Box, for which she was honored with an ACE Award. Mía Maestro has also played important roles in popular films like The Twilight Saga and Frida.