Did you know
She first came to fame as a child actress after being discovered by David Lynch, who cast her in Dune (1984) as Alia and Twin Peaks (1990) as Gersten Hayward
Famous Birthdays on August 21
224 people
1165 – 2002
August 21 has seen 224 notable people enter the world across recorded history — from 1165 – 2002. Below are the most significant names born on this date.
By thisDay.info Editorial Team · — Wikipedia
1975 — Alicia Witt
American actress and musician
Did you know
Witt was a regular on Cybill Shepherd's sitcom Cybill (1995–1998) for four seasons, playing the title character's daughter, Zoey Woodbine
Did you know
She had a critically acclaimed role as a disturbed teenager in Fun (1994), appeared as a music student in Mr
Did you know
Holland's Opus (1995) and as a terrorized college student in the horror film Urban Legend (1998)
Did you know
She appeared in Vanilla Sky (2001) as Libby, Two Weeks Notice (2002), Last Holiday (2006), 88 Minutes (2007) as Kim Cummings, I Care A Lot (2020) and Longlegs (2024)
Philip II, also known as Philip Augustus, was King of France from 1180 to 1223. His predecessors had been known as kings of the Franks, but from 1190 onward, Philip became the first French monarch to style himself "King…
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1165
Duke of Coimbra (died 1550)
Jorge de Lencastre was a Portuguese prince, illegitimate son of King John II of Portugal and Ana de Mendonça, a lady-in-waiting to Joanna la Beltraneja. He was created the second Duke of Coimbra in 1509. He was also…
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1481
Japanese general (died 1619)
Shimazu Yoshihiro was the second son of Shimazu Takahisa and the younger brother of Shimazu Yoshihisa. Traditionally believed to be the 17th head of the Shimazu clan, he was a skilled general during the Sengoku period…
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1535
Founder of the Naushahia branch of the Qadri order (died 1654)
Haji Muhammad Naushāh Ganj Bakhsh was a Punjabi Muslim Sufi poet, saint and scholar from Gujrat in Punjab. He was the founder of the Naushahiah branch of the Qadiriyya Sufi order, and his successors came to be known as…
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1552
Swiss bishop and saint (died 1622)
Francis de Sales, C.O., O.M. was a Savoyard Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Geneva and is a saint of the Catholic Church. He became noted for his deep faith and his gentle approach to the religious divisions in…
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1567
1579
English historian and politician (died 1672)
Sir Roger Twysden, 2nd Baronet, of Roydon Hall near East Peckham in Kent, was an English historian and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1625 and 1640.
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1597
1625
Dom Afonso VI, known as "the Victorious", was the second king of Portugal of the House of Braganza from 1656 until his death. He was initially under the regency of his mother, Luisa de Guzmán, until 1662, when he…
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1643
French mathematician and engineer (died 1737)
Henri Gautier, sometimes called Hubert Gautier was a French engineer. He was born in Nîmes, France.
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1660
French-Italian astronomer and mathematician (died 1729)
Giacomo Filippo Maraldi was a French-Italian astronomer and mathematician. His name is also given as Jacques Philippe Maraldi.
Born in Perinaldo he was the nephew of Giovanni Cassini, and worked most of his life at the…
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1665
1st Duke of Berwick, French general and politician, Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire (died 1734)
James FitzJames, 1st Duke of Berwick, 1st Duke of Liria and Jérica, 1st Duke of Fitz-James was a French-English army officer who was the eldest illegitimate son of James II of England by Arabella Churchill, the sister…
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1670
French painter and educator (died 1805)
Jean-Baptiste Greuze was a French painter of portraits, genre scenes, and history painting.
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1725
Scottish engineer and inventor, created gas lighting (died 1839)
William Murdoch was a Scottish chemist, inventor, and mechanical engineer.
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1754
English general and politician (died 1833)
General Sir Banastre Tarleton, 1st Baronet, was a British military officer and politician. He was the leader of the British Legion during the southern campaign of the American War of Independence.
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1754
King of the United Kingdom (died 1837)
William IV was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and King of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death in 1837. The third son of George III, William succeeded his elder brother George IV, becoming…
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1765
1787
French mathematician and academic (died 1857)
Baron Augustin-Louis Cauchy was a French mathematician, engineer, and physicist. He was one of the first to rigorously state and prove the key theorems of calculus, pioneered the field complex analysis, and the study of…
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1789
French historian and philosopher (died 1874)
Jules Michelet was a French historian and writer, best known for his multi-volume work Histoire de France, which chronicles the history of France from its earliest origins to the French Revolution. Michelet was…
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1798
American general and politician (died 1880)
Hiram Walden was an American businessman and politician from New York. He was most notable for his service as a United States representative from 1849 to 1851.
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1800
Dutch historian and politician (died 1876)
Guillaume Groen van Prinsterer, was a Dutch politician and historian.
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1801
1813
French chemist and academic (died 1856)
Charles Frédéric Gerhardt was a French chemist, born in Alsace and active in Paris, Montpellier, and his native Strasbourg.
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1816
English painter and astronomer (died 1899)
Nathaniel Everett Green FRAS was an English painter, art teacher and astronomer. He professionally painted landscapes and portraits, and also gained fame with his drawings of planets.
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1823
German anatomist and academic (died 1903)
Carl Gegenbaur was a German anatomist and professor who demonstrated that the field of comparative anatomy offers important evidence supporting of the theory of evolution. As a professor of anatomy at the University of…
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1826
German composer, conductor and pianist (died 1907)
Otto Moritz David Goldschmidt was a pianist, composer, conductor and educator, whose works included a piano concerto and other piano pieces, and an oratorio, Ruth, on a biblical theme, written for the Three Choirs…
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1829
Dutch bishop and missionary (died 1900)
Ferdinandus Hubertus Hamer C.I.C.M. was a Catholic missionary to China and bishop who was killed in the Boxer Rebellion in China.
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1840
French geologist and palaeontologist (died 1939)
Charles Eugene Barrois was a French geologist and palaeontologist.
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1851
American publisher, banker, political financier and author (died 1925)
Frank Andrew Munsey was an American newspaper and magazine publisher, banker, political financier and author. He was born in Mercer, Maine, but spent most of his life in New York City. The village of Munsey Park, New…
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1854
Marquise de Morès, American heiress (died 1921)
Medora de Vallombrosa, Marquise de Morès, was an American heiress who married Marquis de Morès.
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1856
1858
Italian journalist and author (died 1911)
Emilio Salgari was an Italian writer of action adventure swashbucklers and a pioneer of science fiction.
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1862
Scottish-Australian poet and author (died 1963)
William Henry Ogilvie was a Scottish-Australian narrative poet and horseman, jackaroo, and drover, and described as a quiet-spoken handsome Scot of medium height, with a fair moustache and red complexion. He was also…
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1869
English author and illustrator (died 1898)
Aubrey Vincent Beardsley was an English illustrator and author. His black ink drawings were influenced by Japanese woodcuts, and depicted the grotesque, the decadent, and the erotic. He was a leading figure in the…
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1872
German footballer and manager (died 1963)
Richard Girulatis was a German football manager.
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1878
English pilot and engineer (died 1959)
Claude Grahame-White was an English pioneer of aviation, and the first to make a night flight, during the Daily Mail-sponsored 1910 London to Manchester air race.
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1879
American golfer and architect (died 1936)
Henry Chandler Egan was an American amateur golfer and golf course architect of the early 20th century.
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1884
1885
Welsh-English author and poet (died 1988)
Ruth Manning-Sanders was an English poet and author born in Wales, known for a series of children's books for which she collected and related fairy tales worldwide. She published over 90 books in her lifetime.
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1886
English sailor (died 1912)
James Paul Moody was a British merchant sailor, who served as sixth officer aboard RMS Titanic. He died when the ship sank on her maiden voyage, the only junior officer not to survive the disaster.
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1887
Puerto Rican-American soldier (died 2007)
Emiliano Mercado del Toro was a Puerto Rican supercentenarian and military veteran who was, at age 115, the world's oldest person following the death of 116-year-old Elizabeth Bolden on December 11, 2006, until his own…
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1891
French actor and director (died 1989)
Charles-Marie Vanel was a French actor and director. During his 65-year film career, which began in 1923, he appeared in more than 200 films and worked with many prominent directors, including Alfred Hitchcock, Luis…
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1892
German painter (died 1982)
Christian Schad was a German painter and photographer. He was associated with the Dada and the New Objectivity movements. Schad's portraits are regarded as emblematic of the decadence of Vienna and Berlin after the…
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1894
American actress (died 1978)
Edith Marie Blossom MacDonald, also known as Blossom Rock, was an American actress of vaudeville, stage, film and television. During her career she was also billed as Marie Blake or Blossom MacDonald. Her younger sister…
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1895
15th Viscount of Arbuthnott, Scottish soldier and peer (died 1966)
Major-General Robert Keith Arbuthnott, 15th Viscount of Arbuthnott, was a senior British Army officer who served in both the First World War and the Second World War.
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1897
Bulgarian author (died 1972)
Angel Ivanov Karaliychev was a Bulgarian writer of children's literature.
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1902
Greek pianist, composer, and conductor (died 1984)
Ioannis Constantinidis, also known by the pen name Kostas Giannidis, was a Greek composer, pianist and conductor.
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1903
American pianist, composer, and bandleader (died 1984)
William James "Count" Basie was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. In 1935, he formed the Count Basie Orchestra, and in 1936 took them to Chicago for a long engagement and their first…
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1904
Indian actor and producer (died 1981)
Bipin Gupta was an Indian actor and artist during the 1930s and 1960s. He acted in Bengali and Hindi cinema, most notably in Baiju Bawra (1952), Jagriti (1954), Gharana (1961), Jeevan Mrityu (1970) and Khilona (1970).
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1905
American animator, director, and producer (died 1995)
Isadore "Friz" Freleng, credited as I. Freleng early in his career, was an American animator, cartoonist, director, producer, and composer known for his work at Warner Bros. Cartoons (WB) on the Looney Tunes and Merrie…
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1906
Indian lawyer and politician (died 1963)
P. Jeevanandham, also called Jeeva, was a social reformer, political leader, litterateur, journalist, critic and one of the pioneers of the Communist and socialist movements in the state of Tamil Nadu, India.
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1907
English supercentenarian
Ethel May Caterham is an English supercentenarian who, at the age of 116 years, 252 days, has been the world's oldest verified living person since the death of Inah Canabarro Lucas on 30 April 2025. She is the oldest…
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1909
Russian mathematician and physicist (died 1992)
Nikolay Nikolayevich Bogolyubov was a Soviet mathematician and theoretical physicist known for his significant contributions to quantum field theory, classical and quantum statistical mechanics, and the theory of…
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1909
1912
English cricketer and coach (died 1998)
Douglas Vivian Parson Wright was an English cricketer who played for England in 34 Test matches from 1938 to 1950/51. He played first-class cricket for Kent in twenty seasons between 1932 and 1957. He was the club's…
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1914
1916
Mexican pianist and songwriter (died 2005)
Consuelo Velázquez Torres, also popularly known as Consuelito Velázquez, was a Mexican concert pianist and composer. She was the composer of famous Mexican ballads such as "Bésame mucho", "Amar y vivir", and "Cachito".
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1916
Polish-American economist and mathematician (died 2008)
Leonid Hurwicz was a Polish–American economist and mathematician, known for his work in game theory and mechanism design. He originated the concept of incentive compatibility, and showed how desired outcomes can be…
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1917
Canadian-American ice hockey player and coach (died 2004)
William Tulip Reay was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach. Reay played ten seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1943 to 1953, winning two Stanley Cups. He then coached from 1957 to 1959 in…
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1918
Romanian-Israeli psychologist and academic (died 2014)
Reuven Feuerstein was a Romanian-born Israeli clinical, developmental, and cognitive psychologist, known for his theory of intelligence. Feuerstein is recognized for his work in developing the theories and applied…
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1921
English soldier and painter (died 2015)
Albert Henry Thomas Irvin was an English expressionist abstract artist.
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1922
Canadian-American ice hockey player, coach, and manager (died 2014)
Courtney Keith "Bingo" Allen was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and National Hockey League (NHL) head coach and general manager. He played 28 games in the NHL for the Detroit Red Wings during the 1953–54…
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1923
1924
American actor (died 1996)
Jack Weston was an American actor. He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in 1976 and a Tony Award in 1981.
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1924
1926
American religious leader, 16th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (died 2018)
Thomas Spencer Monson was an American religious leader, author, and the 16th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As president, he was considered by adherents of the religion to be a prophet,…
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1927
American bassist (died 1963)
Addison Gerald Farmer was an American jazz bassist. He was the twin brother of Art Farmer.
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1928
American trumpet player and composer (died 1999)
Arthur Stewart Farmer was an American jazz trumpeter and flugelhorn player. He also played flumpet, a trumpet–flugelhorn combination especially designed for him. He and his identical twin brother, double bassist Addison…
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1928
American football player (died 2006)
Lewis Pate "Bud" McFadin was an American professional football player and coach. He played college football for the Texas Longhorns and was a unanimous selection at the guard position on the 1950 College Football…
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1928
Puerto Rican-American lawyer and politician (died 2014)
Herman Badillo was an American lawyer and politician who served as borough president of The Bronx and United States Representative, and ran for Mayor of New York City. He was the first Puerto Rican elected to these…
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1929
American poet, translator, anthologist, editor (died 2026)
Joseph Charles Kennedy, known by the pen name X. J. Kennedy, was an American poet, translator, anthologist, editor, and author of children's literature and textbooks on English literature and poetry. He was long known…
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1929
South African politician and political prisoner (died 2017)
Ahmed Mohamed Kathrada OMSG, sometimes known by the nickname "Kathy", was a South African politician and anti-apartheid activist.
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1929
Countess of Snowdon (died 2002)
Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, was the younger daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and the only sibling of Queen Elizabeth II. Born when her parents were the Duke and Duchess of…
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1930
American director, producer, and screenwriter (died 1995)
Frank Joseph Perry Jr. was an American stage director and filmmaker. His 1962 independent film David and Lisa earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. The couple collaborated on…
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1930
Israeli sculptor and painter (died 2015)
Menashe Kadishman was an Israeli sculptor and painter.
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1932
American actor, director, and screenwriter (died 2021)
Melvin Van Peebles was an American actor, filmmaker, writer, and composer. His feature film debut, The Story of a Three-Day Pass (1967), was based on his own French-language novel La Permission and was shot in France,…
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1932
English soprano and educator
Dame Janet Abbott Baker is an English mezzo-soprano best known as an opera, concert, and lieder singer.
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1933
German mountaineer (died 1994)
Michael Dacher was a German mountain climber. In 1979 he and Reinhold Messner climbed the K2 in record time and without oxygen equipment.
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1933
English author and critic (died 2017)
Barry Leslie Norman was a British film critic, television presenter and journalist. He presented the BBC's cinema review programme, Film..., from 1972 to 1998.
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1933
Danish actor and singer (died 1992)
Erik Paaske was a Danish theater, TV and film actor and singer.
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1933
Indian lawyer and politician, 13th Chief Minister of Maharashtra (died 2001)
Sudhakarrao Rajusing Naik was an Indian politician from Indian National Congress party who served as Chief Minister of Maharashtra from 25 June 1991 until 22 February 1993 following the communal riots. He also served as…
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1934
Dutch composer (died 2015)
Paul Panhuysen was a Dutch composer, visual and sound artist. He founded and directed Het Apollohuis, an art space that functioned during the 80's and 90's having artists doing sound installations, sound sculptures, and…
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1934
American basketball player and coach (died 1999)
Wilton Norman Chamberlain was an American professional basketball player. Standing 7 feet 1 inch (2.16 m) tall, he played center in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 14 seasons. He was enshrined in the…
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1936
Georgian painter and educator
Radish Tordia is a Georgian painter of figurative art. He works in oil painting, with particular emphasis on colouristic features. His preferred subject is women, who he regards as "the most beautiful creation in the…
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1936
Scottish politician, first First Minister of Scotland (died 2000)
Donald Campbell Dewar was a Scottish statesman and politician who served as the inaugural first minister of Scotland from 1999 until his death in 2000 and leader of the Labour Party in Scotland from 1998 until his death…
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1937
Ecuadorian academic and politician, 51st President of Ecuador (died 2021)
Gustavo José Joaquín Noboa Bejarano was an Ecuadorian politician who served as the 42nd president of Ecuador from 22 January 2000 to 15 January 2003. Previously he served as the 42nd vice president under President Jamil…
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1937
American novelist and short story writer (died 2015)
Robert Anthony Stone was an American novelist, journalist, and college professor.
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1937
American politician, 6th Governor of Alaska
Stephen Cambreleng Cowper is an American Democratic politician who was the sixth governor of Alaska from 1986 to 1990. He was governor during the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill.
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1938
American singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, and actor (died 2020)
Kenneth Ray Rogers was an American singer-songwriter. Rogers was particularly popular with country audiences, but also charted more than 120 hit singles across various genres, topping the country and pop album charts…
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1938
English rugby player (died 2023)
Michael Philip Weston was an England international rugby union player and captain.
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1938
American Hall of Fame guitarist
James Edward Burton is an American guitarist. A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since 2001, Burton has also been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame and the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum. He was…
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1939
Botswana economist and politician, third President of Botswana
Festus Gontebanye Mogae is a Motswana politician and economist who served as the third President of Botswana from 1998 to 2008. He succeeded Quett Masire as President in 1998 and was re-elected in October 2004. After…
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1939
American actor (died 2021)
Clarence Williams III was an American actor. He was best known for his starring role as Linc Hayes on the television series The Mod Squad (1968-73). He also appeared in films such as Purple Rain, 52 Pick-Up, Tales from…
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1939
English journalist, historian, and author (died 2013)
Dominick Roy Harrod was a British journalist and broadcaster. He was the BBC's economic correspondent in the 1970s and 1980s.
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1940
Hungarian-American mathematician and computer scientist
Endre Szemerédi is a Hungarian-American mathematician and computer scientist, working in the field of combinatorics and theoretical computer science. He is the State of New Jersey Professor of Computer Science Emeritus…
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1940
American singer-songwriter
Jackie DeShannon is an American singer-songwriter, radio broadcaster and actress who has had many hit song credits beginning in the 1960s, as both a singer and composer. She was one of the first female…
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1941
1943
American journalist and author (died 2014)
Jonathan Edward Schell was an American reporter and writer whose work primarily dealt with American foreign policy from the Vietnam War to the war on terror, as well as the threat posed by nuclear weapons and support…
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1943
American author and critic (died 2014)
Lucius Shepard was an American writer. Classified as a science fiction and fantasy writer, he often leaned into other genres, such as magical realism.
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1943
American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (died 2018)
Hugh Hamilton Wilson Jr. was an American film director, writer and television showrunner. He was the creator of the TV series WKRP in Cincinnati and Frank's Place, and was the director of the film comedies Police…
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1943
Bahamian politician, third Prime Minister of the Bahamas
Perry Gladstone Christie PC, MP is a Bahamian former politician who served as prime minister of the Bahamas from 2002 to 2007 and from 2012 to 2017. He is the second longest-serving Bahamian elected parliamentarian,…
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1944
Australian director, producer, and screenwriter
Peter Lindsay Weir is an Australian retired film director, screenwriter, and producer. He directed films crossing various genres over forty years, such as Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975), Gallipoli (1981), The Year of…
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1944
Greek-American composer, conductor (died 2006)
Basil Konstantine Poledouris was an American composer, conductor, and orchestrator of film and television scores, best known for his long-running collaborations with directors John Milius and Paul Verhoeven. Among his…
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1945
English journalist and author
Celia Brayfield is an English author, academic and cultural commentator.
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1945
American baseball player
Frank Gerald DaVanon is an American former professional baseball player. He played all or part of seven seasons in Major League Baseball, primarily as an infielder.
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1945
American football player
Willie Edward Lanier is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL) from 1967 through 1977. He…
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1945
American actress
Patricia McCormack is an American actress with a career in theater, films, and television.
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1945
American singer-songwriter and musician
The Buckinghams are an American pop band from Chicago. They formed in 1966 and went on to become one of the top-selling acts of 1967, charting their only five top 40 hits in the U.S. that year. The band dissolved in…
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1947
American actress and singer
Loretta Devine is an American actress. She is known for numerous roles across stage and screen. Her most high profile roles include Lorrell Robinson in the original Broadway production of Dreamgirls (1981), Amelia…
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1949
Israeli scholar and academic
Daniel Sivan is an Israeli Emeritus professor in the Department of Hebrew Language at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
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1949
Swiss singer-songwriter and model (died 2021)
Patrick Juvet was a Swiss singer-songwriter, who had a string of hit records in Europe. While his early career was focused on making pop records, he found international success as a disco music performer in the latter…
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1950
American attempted assassin of George Wallace
Arthur Herman Bremer is an American convicted criminal who attempted to assassinate U.S. Democratic presidential candidate George Wallace on May 15, 1972, in Laurel, Maryland, leaving Wallace permanently paralyzed from…
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1950
Chilean mathematician and computer scientist
Eric Antonio Goles Chacc is a Chilean mathematician and computer scientist of Croatian descent. He studied mathematical engineering at the University of Chile before earning two doctorates from the University of…
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1951
English musician
Glenn Hughes is an English musician, best known as the bassist and singer in the hard rock band Trapeze and in the Mk. III and IV line-ups of Deep Purple, as well as briefly fronting Black Sabbath in the mid-1980s.
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1951
Maltese politician, economist and educator
Yana Bland or Yana Bland Mintoff is a Maltese Labour politician, economist and educator. Mintoff was born on 21 August 1951, the daughter of the former Prime Minister of Malta, Dom Mintoff and Moyra De Vere Bentinck, by…
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1951
American businessman and politician
Chesley V. Morton Jr. is an American stockbroker, securities arbitrator, and former member of the Georgia House of Representatives.
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1951
Canadian firefighter, wrestler, and trainer
Keith William Hart is an American born-Canadian retired professional wrestler and firefighter. He is a member of the Hart wrestling family and the third child of Helen and Stu Hart. He is best known for his work for…
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1952
Czech soldier and politician, sixth Prime Minister of the Czech Republic
Jiří Paroubek is a Czech politician who served as Prime Minister of the Czech Republic from April 2005 to September 2006. He was also the leader of the Czech Social Democratic Party from 2006 until his resignation…
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1952
English singer-songwriter and guitarist (died 2002)
John Graham Mellor, known professionally as Joe Strummer, was a British musician. He was the co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist of punk rock band the Clash.
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1952
American author, publisher, and director
Ivan Stang is an American writer, filmmaker and broadcaster, best known as the author and publisher of the first screed of the Church of the SubGenius. He is credited with founding the Church with friend Philo Drummond…
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1953
American football player
Archie Mason Griffin is an American former professional football running back who played with the Cincinnati Bengals in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons. He played college football for the Ohio State…
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1954
American drummer
Steven Bruce Smith is an American drummer best known as a member of the rock band Journey across three stints: 1978 to 1985, 1995 to 1998 and 2015 to 2020. Modern Drummer magazine readers have voted him the No. 1…
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1954
New Zealand-Australian singer-songwriter
Mark Williams is a New Zealand singer with Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ) number one hit singles, "Yesterday Was Just the Beginning of My Life" (1975) and a cover of Buddy Holly's "It Doesn't…
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1954
English-Canadian actress
Kim Victoria Cattrall is a British and Canadian actress. She is known for her portrayal of Samantha Jones on HBO's Sex and the City (1998–2004), for which she received five Primetime Emmy Award nominations and four…
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1956
American farmer and politician
Raymond Jon Tester is an American farmer and retired politician who served from 2007 to 2025 as a United States senator from Montana. A member of the Democratic Party, Tester served in the Montana Senate from 1999 to…
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1956
American baseball player and radio host (died 2012)
Frank Enrico Pastore was an American Major League Baseball player and radio host. He pitched for the Cincinnati Reds from 1979 until 1985 and for the Minnesota Twins in 1986, and was in the Texas Rangers organization in…
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1957
American businessman, co-founder of America Online (AOL)
Stephen McConnell Case is an American businessman, investor, and philanthropist best known as the former chief executive officer and chairman of America Online (AOL). Case joined AOL's predecessor company, Quantum…
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1958
Australian footballer and coach
Mark Melville Williams is a former Australian rules football player and coach. As a player, Williams represented West Adelaide and Port Adelaide in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL), as well as…
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1958
English tennis player and coach
Anne Hobbs is a British former professional tennis player.
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1959
American football player and coach
James Robert McMahon Jr. is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons, most notably with the Chicago Bears. McMahon played college football for…
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1959
Argentinian chess player and coach (died 2001)
Gerardo Fabián Barbero was an Argentine chess grandmaster. He was born in Lanús, Buenos Aires, and raised in Rosario, Santa Fe.
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1961
Indian cricketer and coach (died 2019)
Vakkadai Biksheswaran Chandrasekhar was an Indian cricketer, who represented the country in seven One Day Internationals (ODIs) during 1988–90.
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1961
American marine biologist, cartoonist, animator and creator of SpongeBob SquarePants (died 2018)
Stephen McDannell Hillenburg was an American animator, writer, producer, director, voice actor, and marine biology educator. He was best known for creating the animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants for…
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1961
1962
Greek-American basketball player and coach
Jon Anthony Korfas is a Greek-American former professional basketball player and coach. During his professional playing career, Korfas won all three of the FIBA Europe continental-wide titles on the club level. With…
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1962
Puerto Rican bandleader and singer of salsa and bolero
Gilberto Santa Rosa Cortés, nicknamed "El Caballero de la Salsa", is a Puerto Rican bandleader and singer of salsa and bolero. He is a six-time Grammy Award winner and has sold over three million records in the United…
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1962
American bowler
Peter David Weber is an American bowler in the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA), currently competing on the exclusive to their age-group PBA50+ tours, and a member of the PBA and USBC Halls of Fame.
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1962
King of Morocco
Mohammed VI is King of Morocco. A member of the Alawi dynasty, he has reigned since 1999. Mohammed was born during the reign of his father, King Hassan II. At an early age, he began partaking in public engagements on…
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1963
English footballer and manager
Nigel Graham Pearson is an English football manager and former professional player. He last managed Championship club Bristol City. During his playing career, he was a defender and played for Shrewsbury Town, Sheffield…
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1963
Australian surfer
Gary Elkerton, known as Kong is an Australian surfer, three time world masters champion, three time world professional runner-up, twice Hawaiian Triple Crown champion and Australian amateur champion (1984). He is…
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1964
American baseball player
James Eric Bullinger is an American former professional starting pitcher. He played for the Chicago Cubs (1992-1996), Montreal Expos (1997) and Seattle Mariners (1998) of Major League Baseball (MLB). He batted and threw…
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1965
American baseball player and coach
John Karl Wetteland is an American former baseball pitcher who played 12 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He pitched for four teams: the Los Angeles Dodgers, Montreal Expos, New York Yankees, and Texas Rangers. A…
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1966
Australian footballer
Darren Bewick is a former Australian rules footballer who won two premierships with the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Bewick's game breaking pace & goal sense inside the attacking 50…
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1967
1967
Canadian actress
Carrie-Anne Moss is a Canadian actress. After early roles on television, she rose to international prominence for her role of Trinity in The Matrix series (1999–present). She has starred in Memento (2000), for which she…
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1967
Lebanese-born Armenian-American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer
Serj Tankian is an Armenian-American musician. He is best known as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band System of a Down, which was formed in 1994.
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1967
English singer-songwriter
Geraldine "Dina" Carroll is an English singer and songwriter. She had a string of hits during the 1990s, including the UK top ten singles "It's Too Late" (1991), "Don't Be a Stranger" (1993), "The Perfect Year" (1993),…
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1968
1968
English journalist and author
Laura Kate Trevelyan is a British-American journalist who worked for the BBC for 30 years. She served as an On the Record reporter, United Nations correspondent (2006–2009), and New York correspondent (2009–2012),…
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1968
New Zealand motorcycle racer
Bruce Anstey is a professional motorcycle road racer. He is a former lap record holder on the Snaefell Mountain Course with a time of 17 minutes 6.682 seconds, at an average speed of 132.298 mph (212.913 km/h) set…
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1969
Canadian figure skater
Josée Chouinard is a Canadian former competitive figure skater. She is the 1996 Champions Series Final bronze medallist and a three-time Canadian national champion. She finished in the top ten at two Winter Olympics.
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1969
American baseball player and coach
Craig John Counsell is an American former professional baseball infielder and active manager for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was previously the manager for the Milwaukee Brewers and holds the…
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1970
Dutch cyclist and manager
Hendrik "Erik" Dekker is a retired Dutch professional road racing cyclist active from 1992 until 2006. He was a member of the Rabobank cycling team from 1992 till 2006. From 2007 to 2015 he was one of Rabobank's team…
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1970
Canadian actress
Cathy Weseluck is a Canadian actress who frequently works with Ocean Productions in Vancouver, British Columbia and is known for her roles as Near in Death Note, Cybersix/Adrian Seidelman in Cybersix, and Spike in…
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1970
Senegalese footballer
Mamadou Diallo is a Senegalese former professional footballer who played as a forward. He played in twelve countries across four continents: United States, Senegal, Morocco, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, South…
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1971
Australian footballer and coach
Robert Jeffrey Harvey is an Australian rules football coach and former player. He is currently an assistant coach for the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). As a player, he played his entire…
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1971
English keyboard player, DJ, and producer
Liam Paul Paris Howlett is an English songwriter, record producer, musician, and DJ. He is the founder, songwriter, and leader of the British electronic band The Prodigy.
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1971
Russian-American computer scientist and businessman, co-founded Google
Sergey Mikhailovich Brin is an American computer scientist and businessman who co-founded Google with Larry Page. He was the president of Google's parent company, Alphabet Inc., until stepping down from the role on…
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1973
Canadian ice hockey player and coach
Steve McKenna is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played both defense and left wing. He was a veteran of eight seasons in the NHL. McKenna is currently a constable with the Waterloo Regional Police…
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1973
Filipino journalist and radio host
Jose Ruperto Martin Marfori Andanar is a Filipino television news personality, news anchor, radio commentator, podcaster, voice-over artist, columnist, and a barista. He served as the former secretary of the…
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1974
Australian rugby league player and referee
Paul Mellor is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. He played for four different Sydney NRL clubs and in Britain before retiring at the end of the 2007 season. He…
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1974
Australian cricketer and manager
Simon Matthew Katich is an Australian cricket coach and former cricketer. He captained New South Wales and also, until the end of the 2007 season, Derbyshire County Cricket Club. Katich also played for Lancashire,…
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1975
American ice hockey player and scout
Alex Whitmore Brooks is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman who played, as an undrafted player, 19 games in the National Hockey League for the New Jersey Devils in the 2006–07 season.
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1976
Jamaican-American soccer player
Jeff Cunningham is a former professional soccer player who played as a forward. He is Major League Soccer's third-all-time leader in regular-season goals scored with 134. Born in Jamaica, Cunningham initially played for…
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1976
Australian rugby league player
Robert Miles is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in 1990s and 2000s, he played in the National Rugby League (NRL) for the Sydney City Roosters, Northern Eagles and the Wests Tigers.…
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1976
Puerto Rican-American baseball player and coach
Ramón Luis Vázquez is a Puerto Rican professional baseball coach and a former infielder. He most recently served as bench coach for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB).
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1976
English rugby player and manager
Peter Buxton is a former rugby union footballer who played flanker for Gloucester Rugby.
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1978
American football player and coach
Reuben Droughns is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football for the Oregon Ducks, he was selected by the Detroit Lions…
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1978
American baseball player and coach
Lee Matthew Gronkiewicz is an American former Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2007. He is the previous head coach of the Columbia Blowfish and is also involved with USA…
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1978
1978
American baseball player
Jason Scott Marquis is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies, Washington Nationals,…
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1978
1979
Canadian actor
Diego Klattenhoff is a Canadian actor known for his portrayals of Mike Faber in the Showtime series Homeland and as FBI Special Agent Donald Ressler in The Blacklist. He has also appeared as Derek in Whistler, Ivan in…
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1979
Canadian ice hockey player
Bryan Nigel Allen is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) between 2001 and 2014.
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1980
American race car driver
Burney Lamar is an American former professional stock car racing driver. He has previously driven in both the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
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1980
American race car driver
John Paul Christian Menard is an American professional racing driver who currently competes full-time in the Trans-Am Series, driving the No. 3 Ford Mustang for 3GT Racing. Menard is the 2024 and 2025 Trans-Am Series…
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1980
1980
Australian golfer (died 2018)
Jarrod Lyle was an Australian professional golfer. He won twice on the 2008 Nationwide Tour. He played a number of seasons on the PGA Tour; his best finish being tied for 4th place in the 2012 Northern Trust Open. Soon…
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1981
American rower and businessman, co-founded ConnectU
Cameron Howard Winklevoss is an American cryptocurrency investor, former Olympic rower, and cofounder of Winklevoss Capital Management and Gemini cryptocurrency exchange. He competed in the men's pair rowing event at…
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1981
American rower and businessman, co-founded ConnectU
Tyler Howard Winklevoss is an American investor, founder of Winklevoss Capital Management and Gemini cryptocurrency exchange and former Olympic rower. Winklevoss co-founded HarvardConnection along with his identical…
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1981
American actor
Ross Thomas is an American actor, filmmaker, philanthropist and adventurer.
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1981
New Zealand rugby player
Jason John Eaton is a former New Zealand rugby union player. He played as a lock.
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1982
Canadian television journalist, correspondent, and news anchor
Omar Sachedina is a Canadian journalist and news anchor for CTV News. He is currently serving as the chief anchor and senior editor for CTV's national evening newscast CTV National News since September 5, 2022.…
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1982
American television personality and model
Sam Brody Jenner is an American television personality, business owner and DJ from Malibu, California. He is known for his appearances in reality television series such as The Princes of Malibu, The Hills, Bromance, and…
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1983
Australian footballer
Scott Douglas McDonald is an Australian former professional footballer and is the current head coach for National Premier Leagues club Gold Coast Knights. Originally a striker, McDonald could also play as an attacking…
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1983
1984
Jr., American baseball player
Melvin Emanuel "B. J." Upton Jr. is an American former professional baseball center fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays / Rays, Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres, and Toronto…
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1984
1984
Spanish tennis player
Nicolás Almagro Sánchez is a Spanish former professional tennis player. He reached the quarterfinals of the French Open in 2008, 2010 and 2012, as well as the quarterfinals of the Australian Open in 2013.
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1985
Russian pole vaulter
Aleksandra Aleksandrovna Kiryashova is a Russian pole vaulter. Her personal best jump is 4.65 metres.
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1985
Jamaican sprinter
Usain St. Leo Bolt is a Jamaican retired sprinter. Widely regarded as the greatest sprinter of all time, he is an eight-time Olympic gold medalist and the world record holder in the 100 metres, 200 metres, and 4 × 100…
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1986
Dutch footballer
Wout Brama is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.
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1986
Japanese gymnast
Koki Sakamoto is a Japanese gymnast. He was a member of the 2008 Olympic team that won the silver medal. He was the 2nd best Japanese gymnast in the qualifying round and 5th overall but was replaced in the all around…
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1986
Thai politician and 31st Prime Minister of Thailand
Paetongtarn Shinawatra is a Thai politician and businesswoman who served as the 31st prime minister of Thailand from 2024 until her removal from office in 2025. She led the Pheu Thai Party from 2023 until her…
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1986
American comedian and actor
Brooks Wheelan is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and podcaster. First breaking through as a cast member and writer for the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live during the 2013–2014 season, Wheelan…
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1986
American-Macedonian basketball player
DeWanna Bonner is an American-Macedonian professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Bonner played college basketball for Auburn University. After a…
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1987
American actor
Cody Reed Kasch is an American actor. He is known for his role of Zach Young on the ABC comedy-drama series Desperate Housewives.
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1987
American baseball player
Julio Daniel Martinez is an American former professional baseball outfielder and designated hitter. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers, Arizona Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox,…
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1987
American basketball player and coach
Orestes Jodie Meeks II is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is an assistant coach for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for…
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1987
Polish footballer
Robert Lewandowski is a Polish professional footballer who plays as a striker for La Liga club Barcelona and captains the Poland national team. Widely regarded as one of the greatest strikers of all time, he is one of…
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1988
Polish rhythmic gymnast
Joanna Mitrosz-Cieślak, is a retired Polish rhythmic gymnast. She competed at two Olympics and is a seven-time consecutive Polish national champion (2006-2012).
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1988
American singer-songwriter and guitarist
Kacey Lee Musgraves is an American singer and songwriter. She began her career in the early 2000s, when she self-released three solo albums and recorded another album as a member of the duo Texas Two Bits. In 2007,…
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1988
Dutch footballer
Charlison Girigorio Benschop is a Curaçaoan professional footballer who plays as a forward for German Regionalliga club Fortuna Düsseldorf II and the Curaçao senior national team.
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1989
English rugby league player
James Davey is a former English Rugby league footballer who last played as a hooker for the Sheffield Eagles in the Championship.
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1989
Italian footballer
Matteo Gentili is an Italian footballer who plays as a defender for AC Prato.
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1989
American actress
Hayden Lesley Panettiere is an American actress and singer. She has starred as Claire Bennet on the NBC superhero series Heroes (2006–2010), Kirby Reed in the slasher horror franchise Scream (2011–2023), and Juliette…
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1989
Spanish footballer
Aleix Vidal Parreu is a Spanish professional footballer. Mainly a right winger and a player of great speed, he can also operate as a right-back.
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1989
American comedian, musician, actor, filmmaker and poet
Robert Pickering Burnham is an American comedian, actor, musician and filmmaker. Burnham's work combines elements of filmmaking with music, sketch, and stand-up comedy, commonly with a dramatic, satirical, or tragic…
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1990
Puerto Rican baseball player
Christian Rafael Vázquez is a Puerto Rican professional baseball catcher for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins.
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1990
Dutch footballer
Leandro Jones Johan Bacuna is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder or right-back for TFF First League club Iğdır FK. Born in the Netherlands, he was a former youth international for them, before switching…
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1991
American singer and songwriter
Jesse James Rutherford is an American singer, songwriter, and former actor. He is the co-founder and lead vocalist of the alternative rock band the Neighbourhood.
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1991
American baseball player
Brandon Shane Drury is an American professional baseball utility player in the Kansas City Royals organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Yankees,…
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1992
1992
Brazilian race car driver
Luiz Felipe de Oliveira Nasr is a Brazilian racing driver, who competes in the IMSA SportsCar Championship for Team Penske Porsche. Nasr competed in Formula One from 2015 to 2016. In endurance racing, Nasr has won three…
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1992
English footballer
Millie Bright is an English former professional footballer who played as a centre-back.
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1993
American football player
Michael Lynn Evans Jr. is an American professional football wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas A&M Aggies, earning consensus…
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1993
American podcaster
Alexandra Cooper is an American podcaster who co-created and hosts Call Her Daddy, a weekly comedy and advice podcast on Spotify. In 2021, Time Magazine called her "arguably the most successful woman in podcasting"…
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1994
British-Turkish reality television personality, actress and model
Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu is an English reality television personality, actress and model.
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1994
Czech ice hockey player
Dominik Kubalík is a Czech professional ice hockey player who is a winger for EV Zug of the National League (NL). He was drafted in the seventh round, 191st overall, by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2013 NHL entry draft.…
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1995
Czech tennis player
Karolína Muchová is a Czech professional tennis player. She has a career-high singles ranking of world No. 8 by the WTA, achieved in September 2023, and a doubles ranking of No. 156, reached in January 2026. Muchová has…
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1996
American actor
Maxim Knight is an American actor and voice actor who started acting at the age of seven. He is perhaps best known for his supporting role on the TNT television series Falling Skies (2011–2015).
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1999
American baseball player
Corbin Franklin Carroll is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Diamondbacks selected Carroll 16th overall in the first round of the 2019 MLB…
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2000
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Who was born on August 21?
Alicia Witt — American actress (born 1975)
FeaturedAlicia Witt
Birth year1975
Known forShe first came to fame as a child actress after being discovered by David Lynch, who cast her in Dune (1984) as Alia and Twin Peaks (1990) as Gersten Hayward
Birthdays on this date224 (1165 – 2002)
Explore August 21
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Also on August 21 in History
2017
A solar eclipse traverses the continental United States. Wikipedia →
2013
Hundreds of people are reported killed by chemical attacks in the Ghouta region of Syria. Wikipedia →
2000
See all events on August 21
American golfer Tiger Woods wins the 82nd PGA Championship and becomes the first golfer since Ben Hogan in 1953 to win three majors in a calendar year. Wikipedia →
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