Category: Famous Birthdays

1319 – Peter IV, King of Aragon (1336-87), born in Perpignan, France (d. 1387)
1638 – Louis XIV, King of France (1643-1715), known as “The Sun King”, had longest reign of any European monarch, born in Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France (d. 1715)
1792 – Alexis-Charles-Maximilien Thibault, French composer, born in Nantes, France (d. 1853)
1892 – Joseph Szigeti, Hungarian violinist (Violinist Notebook 1933), born in Budapest, Hungary (d. 1973)
1923 – Bob Cato, American photographer, graphic artist and Grammy Award-winning album cover designer (Columbia Records; United Artists), born in New Orleans, Louisiana (d. 1999)
1939 – John Stewart, American singer (Kingston Trio, 1961-67), and songwriter (“Daydream Believer”), born in San Diego, California (d. 2008)
1956 – Roine Stolt, Swedish guitarist (The Flower Kings), born in Uppsala, Sweden
1978 – Sylvester Joseph, West Indian cricketer, born in New Winthorpes, Antigua
1978 – Laura Bertram, Canadian actress (Trance Gemini-Andromeda), born in Toronto, Ontario
1978 – Chris Hipkins, New Zealand Labour politician and Prime Minister of New Zealand (2023), born in Hutt Valley, New Zealand

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973 – Al-Biruni, Iranian mathematician, astronomer and polymath, born in Kath, Khwarezm, Afrighid dynasty (d. 1048) [some sources cite 5th as birth date]
1557 – Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow, Queen of Denmark and Norway, born in Wismar, Germany (d. 1631)
1886 – Albert Orsborn, 6th General of The Salvation Army, born in Clapton, England (d. 1967)
1937 – Gene Ludwig, American jazz and RandB Hammond B-3 organist (Sonny Stitt, Arthur Prysock), born in Twin Rocks, Pennsylvania (d. 2010)
1938 – Leonard Frey, American stage and screen actor (Fiddler on the Roof; The Magic Christian), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 1988)
1942 – Alireza Shapour Shahbazi, Iranian archaeologist and a world expert on Achaemenid archaeology, born in Shiraz, Iran (d. 2006)
1951 – Martin Chambers, English rock drummer (The Pretenders, 1978–86, 1993–present – “Brass in Pocket”, “Don’t Get Me Wrong”), born in Hereford, England
1956 – Blackie Lawless [Steven Duren], American heavy metal singer and guitarist (W.A.S.P.), born in Staten Island, New York
1958 – James Houghton, American artistic director and founder of the Signature Theater Company, born in San Francisco, California (d. 2016)
1965 – Greg Fidelman, American sound engineer (Rick Rubin productions), record producer (Metallica), and guitarist, born in the USA

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1897 – Sally Benson, American writer (Meet Me In St. Louis), born in St. Louis, Missouri (d. 1972)
1897 – Francisco Mignone, Brazilian composer, born in São Paulo, Brazil (d. 1986)
1915 – Abel Ehrlich, Israeli composer, born in Cranz, East Prussia (d. 2003)
1931 – Rudolf Kelterborn, Swiss composer, conductor (Swiss German RSO, 1974-80), and educator (Basel Music Academy, 1983-94), born in Basel, Switzerland (d. 2021)
1936 – Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, 2nd President of Tunisia (1987-2011), born in Hammam Sousse, French Tunisia (d. 2019)
1943 – Dave Eichelberger, American golfer (US Senior Open 1999), born in Waco, Texas
1947 – Gérard Houllier, French soccer manager (Paris Saint-Germain, Lens, Liverpool, Olympique Lyonnais, Aston Villa, France), born in Thérouanne, France (d. 2020)
1963 – Guido Imbens, Dutch American economist (2021 Nobel Prize for Economics), born in Geldrop, Netherlands
1984 – Garrett Hedlund, American actor (Mudbound, Tron: Legacy), born in Roseau, Minnesota
2001 – Kaia Gerber, American model and daughter of supermodel Cindy Crawford, born in Los Angeles, California

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1916 – Dorothy May Bundy-Cheney, American tennis player (141 US tennis titles), born in LA, CA, (d. 2014)
1922 – Arthur Ashkin, American scientist (Nobel Prize for Physics 2018 Optical Tweezers), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 2020)
1927 – Leonard Katzman, American TV screenwriter and producer (Dallas; Petrocelli; Route 66), born in New York City (d. 1996)
1944 – Claude Nicollier, Swiss astronaut (STS 61-K, 46, 61, 75), born in Vevey, Switzerland
1947 – Richard Coughlan, British progressive rock drummer and percussionist (Caravan – “In the Land of Grey and Pink”), born in Herne Bay, Kent, England (d. 2013)
1950 – Yuen Wah, Chinese stuntman and actor (Kung Fu Hustle, The Iceman Cometh), born in Hong Kong
1951 – Mark Harmon, American actor (St Elsewhere, NCIS), born in Burbank, California
1961 – Jeff Russell, American MLB pitcher (Texas Rangers), born in Cincinnati, Ohio
1965 – Lennox Lewis, British/Canadian boxer (Olympic gold super-heavyweight 1988, undisputed world heavyweight champion 1999), born in London, England
1990 – Marcus Ericsson, Swedish auto racer (Indianapolis 500 2022, runner-up 2023; Formula BMW UK 2007; All-Japan Formula 3 C’ship 2009), born in Kumla, Sweden

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1751 – Emmanuel Schikaneder, German performing arts impresario, dramatist, actor, singer, and librettist (Mozart’s “Magic Flute”), born in Straubing, Electorate of Bavaria, Holy Roman Empire (d. 1812)
1878 – Princess Alexandra of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, born in Saxe-Coburg (d. 1942)
1923 – Theo Joekes, Dutch journalist, writer, and politician (VVD), born in The Hague, Netherlands (d. 1999)
1925 – Ruth S. White, American electronic music composer (Flowers Of Evil), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (d. 2013)
1931 – Cecil Parkinson, British politician (C), born in Carnforth, North Lancashire (d. 2016)
1935 – Seiji Ozawa, Japanese conductor (Boston Symphony Orchestra, 1973-2002, Vienna State Opera, 2002-10), born in Mukden, Manchuria (d. 2024)
1962 – Ruud Gullit, Dutch soccer midfielder (66 caps; Ballon d’Or 1987; Feyenoord, PSV, AC Milan, Chelsea), born in Amsterdam, Netherlands
1970 – Barbara Paulus, Austrian tennis player (world #10 1996; 6 x WTA titles), born in Vienna, Austria
1977 – Aaron Schobel, American football defensive end (Pro Bowl 2006, 07; Buffalo Bills), born in Harris County, Texas
1995 – Nathan MacKinnon, Canadian ice hockey center (2013 NHL Draft: #1 pick by Colorado Avalanche; Stanley Cup 2022; 5 x NHL All Star; World C’ship gold 2015), born in Halifax, Nova Scotia

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1855 – Stefan Surzyński Polish choral conductor, organist, and composer, born in Srem, Poland (d. 1919)
1892 – Claire DuBrey, American actress (Lightnin’ in the Forest), born in Bonner’s Ferry, Idaho (d. 1993)
1907 – Ramon Magsaysay, 7th President of the Philippines (US Legion of Merit-1952), born in Iba, Zambales, Philippines (d. 1957)
1928 – James Coburn, American actor (Our Man Flint, Magnificent Seven), born in Laurel, Nebraska (d. 2002)
1939 – Jim McCrary, American photographer and album cover artist (Tapestry: Ticket to Ride), born in Los Angeles (d. 2012)
1945 – Donyale Luna [Peggy Ann Freeman], American model and actress “the first Black supermodel”, born in Detroit, Michigan (d. 1979)
1948 – Holger Osieck, German soccer coach (VfL Bochum, Fenerbahçe, Kocaelispor, Canada, Urawa Red Diamonds, Australia), born in Duisburg, Germany
1968 – Hideo Nomo, Japanese MLB pitcher (LA Dodgers), born in Osaka, Japan
1979 – Simon Neil, Scottish rock singer-songwriter, and guitarist (Biffy Clyro), born in Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland
1982 – Josh Kroeger, American baseball player, born in Davenport, Iowa

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1687 – Francesco Maria Vallara, Italian composer, born in Parma, Duchy of Parma and Piacenza (d. 1740)
1906 – Elizabeth Pakenham, Countess of Longford, British historian, born in London (d. 2002)
1926 – Oļģerts Grāvītis, Latvian-Soviet composer, born in Alūksne, Latvia (d. 2015)
1930 – Ernie Ball, American entrepreneur and musician who pioneered the development of guitar-related products, born in Santa Monica, California (d. 2004)
1933 – Arne Mellnäs, Swedish contemporary classical composer (Aura; Capricorn Flakes; Rolando furioso), and educator (Royal College of Music, 1963-83), born in Stockholm (d. 2002)
1937 – Bruce McLaren, New Zealand car racer and founder of eponymous race team, born in Auckland, New Zealand (d. 1970)
1939 – John Peel, English DJ and Broadcaster (BBC Radio 1), born in Heswell, Merseyside (d. 2004)
1944 – Charles Colbert, American rock bassist (American Breed – “Bend Me, Shape Me”; Rufus), born in Chicago, Illinois
1967 – Barbara Kendall, New Zealand mistral sailor (Olympic gold 1992, silver 1996, bronze 2000), born in Auckland, New Zealand
1985 – Eamon Sullivan, Australian swimmer (3 Olympic medals), born in Perth, Australia

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1881 – Edvin Kallstenius, Swedish composer and librarian, born in Filipstad, Sweden (d. 1967)
1881 – Valery-Nicolas Larbaud, French novelist and translator (Enfantines), born in Vichy, France (d. 1957)
1884 – Ehm Welk [Thomas Trimm], German writer, born in Biesenbrow, Brandenburg (d. 1966)
1921 – Iris Apfel, American businesswoman, interior designer and fashion icon, born in Queens, New York City (d. 2024)
1931 – Stelios Kazantzidis, Greek singer, born in Nea Ionia, Athens, Greece (d. 2001)
1938 – Elliott Gould, American actor (M*A*S*H, Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice), born in Queens, New York
1969 – Joe Swail, Northern Irish snooker player, born in Belfast, Northern Ireland
1979 – Emily Hampshire, Canadian actress (Schitt’s Creek), born in Montreal, Québec
1990 – Sam Stern, British chef and author, born in Yorkshire, United Kingdom
1993 – Liam Payne, English pop singer (One Direction- “What Makes You Beautiful”), born in Wolverhampton, England (d. 2024)

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1754 – Peter Winter, German composer, born in Mannhein, Electorate of the Palatinate, Holy Roman Empire (d. 1825)
1798 – Gershom Jaques Van Brunt, U.S. Army (Union Navy), born in Monmouth County, New Jersey (d. 1863)
1840 – Alexander Cameron Sim, Scottish merchant, born in Aberlour, Scotland (d. 1900)
1878 – George Whipple, American physician and biomedical researcher (Nobel-1934), born in Ashland, New Hampshire (d. 1976)
1884 – Peter Fraser, Scottish-born New Zealand statesman and 24th Prime Minister of New Zealand (1940-49), born in Hill of Fearn, Scotland (d. 1950)
1891 – Stanley Andrews, American actor (Mr. Deeds Goes to Town), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1969)
1909 – Lamberto Maggiorani, Italian factory worker turned actor (Antonio in “Bicycle Thieves”), born in Rome, Italy (d. 1983)
1916 – C. Wright Mills, American sociologist and writer (The Power Elite), born in Waco, Texas (d. 1962)
1945 – Bruno Nuytten, French film director (Camille Claudel), born in Melun, Île-de-France, France
1969 – Mary McCartney, British photographer and daughter of Beatle Paul and Linda McCartney, born in London, England

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1545 – Alexander Farnese, Italian nobleman, mercenary, Governor of Spanish Netherlands (1578-92), and Duke of Parma (1586-92), born in Rome. Papal States (d. 1592)
1583 – Simon Besler, German composer, born in Brieg, Silesia (d. 1633)
1637 – Charles Calvert, 3rd Baron Baltimore, Governor of the Province of Maryland, born in Salisbury, England (d. 1715)
1908 – Kurt Wegner, German artist, born in Köln, Germany (d. 1985)
1911 – Kathleen “Kay” Walsh, British actress (The Horse’s Mouth, Oliver Twist), born in Chelsea, London, England (d. 2005)
1919 – John Donkin Dormand, Baron Dormand of Easington, British politician (Labour Party), born in Haswell, County Durham, England (d. 2003)
1928 – Joan Kroc [Mansfield], American 3rd wife of Ray Kroc, the owner of McDonald’s and the San Diego Padres, born in West St. Paul, Minnesota (d. 2003)
1954 – John Lloyd, English tennis player (French Open mixed doubles 1982, Wimbledon 1983, 84; former husband of Chris Evert), born in Leigh-on-Sea, England
1969 – Avril Haines, American lawyer, 1st female Director of National Intelligence (2021-), born in New York City
1970 – Jeff Kenna, Irish soccer right-back (27 caps Republic of Ireland; Southampton, Blackburn Rovers, Birmingham City, Derby County), born in Dublin, Ireland

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