Did you know
Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2021
Famous Birthdays on December 21
177 people
968 – 2006
December 21 has seen 177 notable people enter the world across recorded history — from 968 – 2006. Below are the most significant names born on this date.
By thisDay.info Editorial Team · — Wikipedia
1983 — Steven Yeun
American actor
Did you know
For the latter, he became the first East Asian-American nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor
Did you know
He rose to prominence for playing Glenn Rhee in the television series The Walking Dead (2010–2016)
Did you know
He earned critical acclaim for the films Burning (2018) and Minari (2020)
Did you know
For the Netflix dark comedy series Beef (2023), which he produced and starred in, Yeun received Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Limited Series and Outstanding Lead Actor.
Japanese samurai (died 1048)
Minamoto no Yorinobu was a samurai commander and member of the powerful Minamoto clan. Along with his brother Yorimitsu, Yorinobu served the regents of the Fujiwara clan, taking the violent measures the Fujiwara were…
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968
1401
1st Baron Conyers, English baron (died 1524)
William Conyers, 1st Baron Conyers, also known as William Conyers of Hornby, was an English baron and aristocrat.
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1468
1st Earl of Southampton, English politician (died 1550)
Thomas Wriothesley, 1st Earl of Southampton, was an English peer, secretary of state, Lord Chancellor and Lord High Admiral. A naturally skilled but unscrupulous and devious politician who changed with the times,…
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1505
Catholic cardinal (died 1586)
Luigi d'Este was an Italian Catholic cardinal, the second son of the five children of Ercole II d'Este, Duke of Modena and Ferrara, and Renée de Valois, daughter of Louis XII of France.
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1538
English mathematician and astrologer (died 1632)
Thomas Allen (or Alleyn) (21 December 1542 – 30 September 1632) was an English mathematician and astrologer. Highly reputed in his lifetime, he published little, but was an active private teacher of mathematics. He was…
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1542
Mughal noble (died 1614)
Mirza Raja Man Singh I was the 24th Kachawaha Rajput ruler of the Kingdom of Amber from 1589 to 1614. For the Mughals, he also served as the foremost imperial Subahdar of Bihar Subah from 1587 to 1594, then for Bengal…
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1550
Ruthenian Orthodox metropolitan and saint (died 1646)
Petro Mohyla or Peter Mogila was the Metropolitan of Kiev, Galicia and all Rus' in the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in the Eastern Orthodox Church from 1633 to 1646.
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1596
English minister, theologian, and politician, 9th President of the Colony of Rhode Island (died 1684)
Roger Williams was an English-born New England minister, theologian, author, and founder of the Providence Plantations, which became the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations and later the State of Rhode…
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1603
Rhode Island colonial governor (died 1678)
Benedict Arnold was president and then governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, serving for a total of 11 years in these roles. He was born and raised in the town of Ilchester, Somerset,…
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1615
German pastor and composer (died 1737)
Benjamin Schmolck was a German Lutheran writer of hymns.
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1672
Canadian-English general (died 1774)
Major-General John Bradstreet was a British Army officer and colonial administrator who served in King George's War, the French and Indian War and Pontiac's War. He was born in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, to a British…
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1714
German harpsichord player and composer (died 1778)
Hermann Friedrich Raupach was an 18th-century German composer.
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1728
Danish jurist and politician, 3rd Prime Minister of Denmark (died 1860)
Anders Sandøe Ørsted was a Danish lawyer, politician and jurist. He served as the Prime Minister of Denmark between 1853–1855. He was brother of Hans Christian Ørsted.
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1778
English priest, hunter, and dog breeder (died 1883)
John "Jack" Russell, was an English parson, dog breeder, and enthusiastic follower of country sports, particularly fox hunting. He was known as "The Sporting Parson".
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1795
German historian, author, and academic (died 1886)
Leopold von Ranke was a German historian and a founder of modern source-based history. He was able to implement the seminar teaching method in his classroom and focused on archival research and the analysis of…
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1795
Italian painter and academic (died 1894)
Achille Vianelli or Vianelly was an Italian painter of landscapes with genre scenes, often in watercolor.
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1803
English lawyer and politician, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (died 1881)
Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield, was a British statesman, Conservative politician and writer who twice served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He played a central role in the creation of the modern…
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1804
Scottish chemist and academic (died 1869)
Thomas Graham was a Scottish chemist known for his pioneering work in dialysis and the diffusion of gases. He is regarded as one of the founders of colloid chemistry.
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1805
Scottish-English archbishop (died 1882)
Archibald Campbell Tait was an Archbishop of Canterbury in the Church of England and theologian. He was the first Scottish priest to become Archbishop of Canterbury and thus, head of the Church of England.
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1811
French painter and educator (died 1879)
Thomas Couture was a French history painter and teacher. He taught many notable contemporary figures of the art world, such as Édouard Manet, Henri Fantin-Latour, John La Farge, Pierre Puvis de Chavannes, John Ward…
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1815
American businessman (died 1894)
William Henry Osborn was an American businessman and philanthropist. He was a railroad tycoon who, as head of the Illinois Central Railroad and later the Chicago, St. Louis and New Orleans Railroad, became one of the…
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1820
Cuban soldier and politician (died 1907)
Bartolomé de Jesús Masó Márquez was a Cuban politician and military patriot for Cuban independence from the colonial power of Spain, and later President of the República en Armas.
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1830
American general and politician (died 1906)
John Henry Ketcham was an American politician and military officer who was a United States representative from New York for over 33 years from 1877 to 1893 and from 1897 to 1906. He also served as a major general in the…
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1832
Belgian cellist and composer (died 1915)
Ernest de Munck was a Belgian cellist and composer. Born in Brussels, de Munck learned the cello from his professional cellist father François de Munck as well as Adrien-François Servais. He later became a professor at…
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1840
Turkish journalist, playwright, and activist (died 1888)
Namık Kemal was an Ottoman writer, poet, democrat, intellectual, reformer, journalist, playwright, and political activist who was influential in the formation of the Young Ottomans and their struggle for governmental…
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1840
Irish-New Zealander journalist, poet, and politician (died 1898)
Thomas Bracken was an Irish-born New Zealand poet, journalist and politician. He wrote "God Defend New Zealand", one of the two national anthems of New Zealand, and was the first person to publish the phrase "God's Own…
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1843
Czech composer and poet (died 1900)
Zdeněk Fibich was a Czech composer of classical music. Among his compositions are chamber works, symphonic poems, three symphonies, at least seven operas, melodramas including the substantial trilogy Hippodamia,…
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1850
American lawyer and politician, 26th Governor of Arkansas (died 1929)
Thomas Chipman McRae was an American attorney and politician from Arkansas. Described as a “Woodrow Wilson progressive," he served as a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives and the 26th…
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1851
Australian politician, 16th Premier of New South Wales (died 1932)
Sir Joseph Hector McNeil Carruthers was an Australian politician who served as Premier of New South Wales from 1904 to 1907.
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1857
French poet and critic (died 1936)
Gustave Kahn was a French Symbolist poet and art critic. He was also active, via publishing and essay-writing, in defining Symbolism and distinguishing it from the Decadent Movement.
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1859
Irish nationalist and political activist (died 1953)
Maud Gonne MacBride was an Irish republican revolutionary, suffragette and actress. She was, contrary to her own claims of Anglo-Irish descent, English on the sides of both parents, and was won over to Irish nationalism…
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1866
American chemist and engineer (died 1934)
George Warren Fuller was an American sanitary engineer who was also trained in bacteriology and chemistry. His career extended from 1890 to 1934 and he was responsible for important innovations in water and wastewater…
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1868
Canadian-American zoologist and academic (died 1970)
Trevor Charles Digby Kincaid was a Canadian-American scientist and professor at the University of Washington who achieved national acclaim for his scientific achievements while an undergraduate student. Kincaid's…
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1872
Italian priest and composer (died 1956)
Monsignor Lorenzo Perosi was an Italian composer of sacred music and the only member of the Giovane Scuola who did not write opera. In the late 1890s, while he was still only in his twenties, Perosi was an…
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1872
American journalist and author (died 1942)
Albert Payson Terhune was an American writer, dog breeder, and journalist. He was popular for his novels relating the adventures of his beloved collies and as a breeder of collies at his Sunnybank Kennels, the lines of…
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1872
Australian lawyer and politician, 23rd Premier of New South Wales (died 1975)
John Thomas "Jack" Lang, nicknamed as The Big Fella, was an Australian politician who served as the 23rd premier of New South Wales from 1925 to 1927 and from 1930 to 1932. He was the state leader of the Australian…
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1876
1877
Polish-Irish mathematician and philosopher (died 1956)
Jan Łukasiewicz was a Polish logician and philosopher who is best known for Polish notation and Łukasiewicz logic. His work centred on philosophical logic, mathematical logic and history of logic. He thought…
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1878
Puerto Rican writer, educator, women's rights activist (died 1951)
Dr. María Cadilla Colón de Martínez was a Puerto Rican writer, educator, women's rights activist and one of the first women in Puerto Rico to earn a doctoral degree.
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1884
Canadian ice hockey player and coach (died 1960)
Francis Alexis Patrick was a Canadian professional ice hockey player, head coach, manager, and executive. Along with his brother Lester, he founded the Pacific Coast Hockey Association (PCHA), the first major…
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1885
French runner and rugby player (died 1914)
Alexandre François Étienne Jean Bouin was a French middle-distance runner. He competed in the 1500m at the 1908 Olympics and the 5000m at the 1912 Olympics. He won a silver medal in the 5000m in 1912, behind Hannes…
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1888
American geneticist and biologist (died 1988)
Sewall Green Wright ForMemRS
HonFRSE was an American geneticist known for his influential work on evolutionary theory and also for his work on path analysis. He was a founder of population genetics alongside Ronald…
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1889
American geneticist and biologist, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1967)
Hermann Joseph Muller was an American geneticist who was awarded the 1946 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine "for the discovery of the production of mutations by means of X-ray irradiation". Muller warned of…
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1890
American lawyer and politician, 53rd Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (died 1980)
John William McCormack was an American politician from Boston, Massachusetts who served as the 45th speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1962 until his retirement in 1971. McCormack served in the…
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1891
American golfer (died 1969)
Walter Charles Hagen was an American professional golfer and a major figure in golf in the first half of the 20th century. His tally of 11 professional majors is third behind Jack Nicklaus (18) and Tiger Woods (15).…
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1892
English journalist and author (died 1983)
Dame Cecily Isabel Fairfield, known as Rebecca West, or Dame Rebecca West, was a British author, journalist, literary critic and travel writer. An author who wrote in many genres, West reviewed books for The Times, the…
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1892
Marshal of the Soviet Union during World War II (died 1968)
Konstantin Konstantinovich Rokossovsky was a Soviet and Polish general who served as a top commander in the Red Army during World War II and achieved the ranks of Marshal of the Soviet Union and Marshal of Poland. He…
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1896
Guatemalan supreme court judge and briefly acting president (died 1965)
Luis Arturo González López was a Guatemalan attorney and politician who served as the acting President of Guatemala from 27 July 1957 to 24 October 1957. He became president after the assassination of Carlos Castillo…
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1900
German mathematician (died 1983)
Käte Fenchel née Käte Sperling was a German-born Jewish mathematician, best known for her work on non-abelian groups.
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1905
English author (died 2000)
Anthony Dymoke Powell was an English novelist best known for his 12-volume work A Dance to the Music of Time, published between 1951 and 1975. It is on the list of longest novels in English.
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1905
Japanese journalist and author (died 1992)
Seichō Matsumoto was a Japanese writer, credited with popularizing detective fiction in Japan.
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1909
American baseball player (died 1947)
Joshua Gibson was an American baseball catcher who played primarily in the Negro leagues. In 1972, he became the second Negro league player to be inducted in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, after Satchel Paige.
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1911
American illustrator and painter (died 2010)
Arnold Friberg was an American illustrator and painter noted for his religious and patriotic works. He is perhaps best known for his 1975 painting The Prayer at Valley Forge, a depiction of George Washington praying at…
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1913
Australian microbiologist and virologist (died 2010)
Frank John Fenner was an Australian scientist with a distinguished career in the field of virology. His two greatest achievements are cited as overseeing the eradication of smallpox, and the attempted control of…
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1914
German novelist and short story writer, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1985)
Heinrich Theodor Böll was a German writer. Considered one of Germany's foremost post–World War II writers, Böll received the Georg Büchner Prize (1967) and the Nobel Prize for Literature (1972).
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1917
American colonel and politician, 11th White House Chief of Staff (died 2003)
Donald Thomas Regan was an American government official and business executive who served as the 66th United States secretary of the treasury from 1981 to 1985 and as the 11th White House chief of staff from 1985 to…
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1918
Austrian colonel and politician; 9th President of Austria (died 2007)
Kurt Josef Waldheim was an Austrian politician and diplomat. Waldheim was the secretary-general of the United Nations from 1972 to 1981 and the president of Austria from 1986 to 1992.
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1918
American voice actor (died 2018)
Douglas Hiram Young was an American voice actor who worked on radio programs and in animated cartoons.
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1919
Cuban ballerina and choreographer, founded the Cuban National Ballet (died 2019)
Alicia Alonso was a Cuban prima ballerina assoluta and choreographer whose company became the Ballet Nacional de Cuba in 1955. She is best known for her portrayals of Giselle and the ballet version of Carmen.
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1920
American computer programmer (died 1964)
Adele Goldstine was an American mathematician and computer programmer. She wrote the manual for the first electronic digital computer, ENIAC. Through her programming work, she was instrumental in converting the ENIAC…
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1920
American swimmer and aviator (died 2025)
Iris Cummings, also known by her married name Iris Critchell, was an American aviator and competition swimmer who represented the United States at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany. After an active athletic…
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1920
Nauruan pastor and politician (died 1989)
The Reverend Alfred Itubwa Amram was a Nauruan pastor and political figure.
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1922
French mathematician and physicist (died 2017)
Cécile Andrée Paule DeWitt-Morette was a French mathematician and physicist. She founded the Les Houches School of Physics in the French Alps. For this and her publications, she was awarded the American Society of the…
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1922
American actor, voice artist, and ventriloquist (died 2005)
Paul Winchell was an American ventriloquist, comedian, actor, humanitarian, and inventor whose career flourished in the 1950s and 1960s. From 1950 to 1954, he hosted The Paul Winchell Show, which also used two other…
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1922
American basketball player (died 2019)
Wataru Misaka was an American professional basketball player. A 5-foot-7-inch (1.70 m) point guard of Japanese descent, he broke a color barrier in professional basketball by being the first non-white player and the…
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1923
Czech author and playwright (died 2011)
Arnošt Lustig was a Czech Jewish writer, playwright and screenwriter. His works have often involved the Holocaust.
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1926
American football player and coach (died 2012)
Joseph Vincent Paterno, sometimes referred to as JoePa, was an American college football player, athletic director, and coach. He was the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions from 1966 to 2011. With 409 victories,…
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1926
French linguist and missionary (died 2026)
Charles Bailleul was a French linguist and Roman Catholic missionary, a member of the White Fathers.
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1927
American animator
Philip Roman is an American animator. He is the director of the Peanuts and Garfield animated specials and is the founder of the animation studios Film Roman and Phil Roman Entertainment.
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1930
Indian author, poet, and critic (died 2014)
Udupi Rajagopalacharya Ananthamurthy was an Indian contemporary writer and critic in the Kannada language. He was born in Thirtahalli Taluk and is considered one of the pioneers of the Navya movement. In 1994, he became…
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1932
American author and critic
Edward Morley Hoagland was an American author best known for his nature and travel writing.
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1932
Jamaican cricketer
John Leslie Hendriks is a former Jamaican cricketer who was a Test wicket-keeper in the West Indies cricket team from 1962 to 1969.
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1933
American businessman and academic, founded MORI (died 2025)
Sir Robert Milton Worcester, was an American-born British pollster who was the founder of MORI and a member and contributor to many voluntary organisations. He was a well-known figure in British public opinion research…
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1933
Italian sprinter
Giuseppina "Giusy" Leone is a retired Italian sprinter. She competed in the 100 m, 200 m and 4 × 100 m events at the 1952, 1956 and 1960 Olympics and reached the final on five occasions. In 1960 she won a bronze medal…
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1934
Pakistani cricketer (died 2016)
Hanif Mohammad PP was a Pakistani cricketer.
He played for the Pakistani cricket team in 55 Test matches between the 1952–53 season and the 1969–70 season. He averaged 43.98, scoring twelve centuries. At his peak, he…
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1934
American director, producer, and cinematographer (died 2017)
John Guilbert Avildsen was an American film director. He is best known for directing Rocky (1976), which earned him the Academy Award for Best Director. He is also known for directing the first three films in The Karate…
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1935
Italian racing driver (died 1967)
Lorenzo Bandini was an Italian racing driver, who competed in Formula One from 1961 to 1967. Bandini won the 1964 Austrian Grand Prix with Ferrari. In endurance racing, Bandini won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1963, as…
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1935
American talk show host and producer (died 2024)
Phillip John Donahue was an American media personality, writer, film producer, and the creator and host of The Phil Donahue Show. The television program, later known simply as Donahue, was the first popular talk show to…
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1935
Romanian actress (died 2017)
Stela Popescu was a Romanian actress and TV personality considered the greatest comedy actress and one of best female actresses of all time in Romania.
With Ștefan Bănică and Alexandru Arșinel she was successively half…
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1935
Canadian academic and politician, Governor General of Canada
Edward Richard Schreyer is a Canadian politician, diplomat, and statesman who served as the 22nd governor general of Canada from 1979 to 1984. He previously served as the 16th premier of Manitoba from 1969 to 1977.
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1935
American politician (died 2025)
Janet S. Metcalf was an American politician in the state of Iowa.
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1935
American actress and activist
Jane Seymour Fonda is an American actress and activist. Fonda's work spans several genres and over seven decades of film and television. She is the recipient of numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, two…
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1937
American actor
Arvid Laurence Bryggman is an American actor. He is known for playing the role of Dr. John Dixon on the CBS Daytime soap opera As the World Turns. He won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama…
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1938
Canadian academic and politician, 2nd Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs
Lloyd Norman Axworthy is a Canadian politician, elder statesman and academic. He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien. Following his retirement from parliament, he…
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1939
Syrian-Saudi Arabian financier, businessman and philanthropist
Wafic Rida Saïd is a Syrian-Saudi-Canadian businessman, financier, and philanthropist who has resided for many years in Monaco.
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1939
American singer-songwriter, guitarist, composer and producer (died 1993)
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, songwriter, guitarist, conductor, actor, satirist, filmmaker, and activist. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa composed rock, pop, jazz, jazz fusion, orchestral…
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1940
Chinese engineer and politician, 5th Paramount leader of China
Hu Jintao is a Chinese retired politician who served as the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from 2002 to 2012, president of China from 2003 to 2013, and chairman of the Central Military Commission…
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1942
American singer
Carla Venita Thomas is an American singer, who is often referred to as the Queen of Memphis Soul. She is best known for her 1960s recordings for Atlantic and Stax including the hits "Gee Whiz " (1960), "B-A-B-Y" (1966)…
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1942
English guitarist and songwriter
Albert William Lee is an English guitarist known for his fingerstyle and hybrid picking technique. Lee has worked, both in the studio and on tour, with many famous musicians from a wide range of genres. He has also…
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1943
French rugby player
Walter Spanghero is a former French rugby union footballer. His father, Ferruccio Dante Spanghero, emigrated from Friuli, arriving in France in the 1930s to make a living as a bricklayer. He was a part of the France…
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1943
American pianist, composer, and conductor (died 2026)
Michael Tilson Thomas was an American conductor, composer, pianist and music pedagogue. He was music director of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra from 1971 to 1979. He founded the New World Symphony, an American…
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1944
Chinese diplomat (died 2007)
Zheng Xiaoyu was the director of the State Food and Drug Administration of the People's Republic of China from 2003 to 2005. He was sentenced to death for corruption and allowing possibly tainted products in mainland…
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1944
Australian cricketer
Kevin Douglas Walters is a former Australian cricketer. He was known as an attacking batsman, a useful part-time bowler, and also as a typical ocker. He was a part of the Australian squad which finished as runners-up at…
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1945
1946
American singer-songwriter and guitarist (died 1998)
Carl Dean Wilson was an American musician, singer, and songwriter who co-founded the Beach Boys. He was their lead guitarist, the youngest sibling of bandmates Brian and Dennis, and the group's de facto leader in the…
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1946
Spanish guitarist, songwriter, and producer (died 2014)
Francisco Gustavo Sánchez Gómez, known as Paco de Lucía, was a Spanish virtuoso flamenco guitarist, composer, and record producer. A leading proponent of the new flamenco style, he was one of the first flamenco…
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1947
American actor and voice artist; longest-serving president of the Screen Actors Guild (1988–95)
Barry Gordon is an American actor and political talk show host. He was the longest-serving president of the Screen Actors Guild, having served from 1988 to 1995. He is perhaps best known as the original voice of…
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1948
American actor and producer
Samuel Leroy Jackson is an American actor and film producer. He is one of the most widely recognized actors of his generation. The films in which he has appeared have collectively grossed more than $27 billion…
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1948
American baseball player
David Arthur Kingman, nicknamed "Kong", "King Kong", and "Sky King", is an American former Major League Baseball left fielder, first baseman, third baseman, and designated hitter who was a three-time MLB All-Star with…
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1948
Burkinabé captain and politician, 5th President of Burkina Faso (died 1987)
Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara was a Burkinabé military officer, Marxist and Pan-Africanist revolutionary who, following his takeover in a coup, remained in power as the first President of Burkina Faso from 1983 until his…
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1949
Greek lawyer and politician
Nikolaos Sifounakis is a Greek politician, former Minister for the Aegean and ex-member of the European Parliament (MEP). He was elected on the Panhellenic Socialist Movement ticket and sat with the Party of European…
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1949
American screenwriter and producer, co-founded DreamWorks Animation
Jeffrey Katzenberg is an American media proprietor and film producer. He served as chair of Walt Disney Studios from 1984 to 1994, a position in which he oversaw production and business operations for the company's…
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1950
1950
Norwegian singer-songwriter and guitarist (died 2024)
Lillebjørn Falk Nilsen was a Norwegian singer-songwriter and folk musician. He was considered by many to be a leading "voice of Oslo", alongside Ole Paus, thanks to numerous classic songs about the city from the 1970s…
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1950
English footballer and manager
Stephen John Perryman MBE is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender or midfielder. He is best-known for his successes with Tottenham Hotspur during the 1970s and early 1980s. He has won the…
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1951
Dominican baseball player (died 2015)
Joaquín Andújar was a Dominican professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros, St. Louis Cardinals, and Oakland Athletics from 1976 through 1988. Andújar was a four-time…
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1952
American actor
Dennis Boutsikaris is an American stage and film actor. A two-time Obie Award Winner, he has appeared on and off Broadway, being the first American to play Mozart in Amadeus. On television he is best known for his role…
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1952
American swimmer
Steven Charles Furniss is an American former swimmer, business owner, Olympic bronze medalist and world record-holder.
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1952
Hungarian-English pianist and conductor
Sir András Schiff is a Hungarian and British classical pianist and conductor. He has received numerous awards and honours, including the Grammy Award, Gramophone Award, Mozart Medal, and Royal Academy of Music Bach…
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1953
American singer-songwriter (died 2020)
Bessie Regina Norris, better known by her stage name Betty Wright, was an American soul and R&B singer, songwriter and background vocalist. Beginning her professional career in the late 1960s as a teenager, Wright rose…
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1953
American tennis player and coach
Christine Marie Evert is an American former professional tennis player. One of the most successful players of all time, she was ranked as the world No. 1 in women's singles by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) for…
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1954
American actress
Jane Frances Kaczmarek is an American actress. Her role as Lois on the Fox sitcom Malcolm in the Middle (2000–2006) earned her three Golden Globe nominations and seven Primetime Emmy nominations. She also appeared as…
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1955
Japanese singer-songwriter and bass player
Kazuyuki Sekiguchi is a Japanese musician, best known for playing the bass guitar for Southern All Stars. As a solo artist, he has played ukulele. He is a fan of Hawaiian music, and is the founder of the annual Ukulele…
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1955
1956
American actor, producer, and screenwriter
Raymond Albert Romano is an American stand-up comedian and actor. He is best known for his role as Raymond "Ray" Barone on the CBS sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond (1996–2005), for which he won three Primetime Emmy…
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1957
English singer and songwriter (died 2020)
Tony G Lewis was an English singer and musician. He was the lead singer and bassist of the pop-rock band the Outfield, best known for their hit singles "Your Love" and "All the Love in the World". After a long career…
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1957
Russian high jumper
Tamara Vladimirovna Bykova is a Russian former track and field athlete who represented the Soviet Union and competed in the high jump. She is the 1983 World Champion, the 1987 World Championship silver medallist, the…
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1958
American sprinter and actress (died 1998)
Florence Delorez Griffith Joyner, also known as Flo-Jo, was an American track and field athlete who set world records in the 100m and 200m in 1988. During the late 1980s, she became a popular figure due to both her…
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1959
Indian cricketer
Krishnamachari "Kris" Srikkanth, also known as Cheeka, is a former Indian cricket captain and coach. He also serves as a cricket commentator. He was a hard-hitting opening batter and an occasional right arm offbreak…
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1959
Pakistani journalist, politician, and diplomat, 25th Pakistan Ambassador to the United States
Shehrbano "Sherry" Rehman is a Pakistani politician and journalist who has been the member of the Senate of Pakistan since 2015. She was the first female Leader of the Opposition in the Senate from March to August 2018…
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1960
Japanese bass player and composer
Ryuji Sasai is a Japanese video game composer and bass guitarist. He is best known for his work on Xak, Final Fantasy Legend III and Final Fantasy Mystic Quest. His musical career came about when he was 15 years old,…
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1961
1963
Japanese director and illustrator
Kunihiko Ikuhara , also known by the nickname Ikuni, is a Japanese director, writer, artist, and music producer. He has created and collaborated on several notable anime and manga series, including Sailor Moon,…
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1964
1964
Australian rugby league player
Glenn Coleman is an Australian former rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s. He played his entire club football career with the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. He primarily played on the wing
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1965
1965
Canadian-German actress, director, and screenwriter
Anke Christina Fischer is a German comedian, actress, voice-actress, and television presenter.
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1965
American actress
Michelle Hurd is an American actress and secretary-treasurer of SAG AFTRA. Hurd has worked as a television character actress, first appearing on the soap opera Another World (1991–1997). She later earned recognition for…
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1966
5th President of Kenya
William Kipchirchir Samoei Arap Ruto is a Kenyan politician who is the fifth and current president of Kenya since 13 September 2022. Prior to becoming president, he served as the first elected deputy president of Kenya…
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1966
British-Canadian actor, director, and producer
Kiefer William Frederick Dempsey George Rufus Sutherland is a British and Canadian actor. He is best known for his starring role as Jack Bauer in the Fox drama series 24, for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award and a…
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1966
American basketball player and coach
Terry Richard Mills is an American former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a power forward. He was a member of the Michigan Wolverines' 1989 National Collegiate…
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1967
Georgian lawyer and politician, 3rd President of Georgia
Mikheil "Misha" Saakashvili is a Georgian-Ukrainian politician. He was the third president of Georgia for two consecutive terms from January 2004 to November 2013, with a break from November 2007 to January 2008 after…
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1967
French model, actress, director, and screenwriter
Julie Delpy is a French-American actress, screenwriter, and film director. She studied filmmaking at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and has directed, written, and acted in more than 30 films, including Europa Europa…
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1969
Latvian footballer, coach, and manager
Mihails Zemļinskis is a Latvian politician and former professional footballer. He played as a centre-back or sweeper, making over 100 appearances for the Latvia national team.
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1969
French singer-songwriter and guitarist
Matthieu Chedid is a French multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter.
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1971
American singer-songwriter and author
Natalie Diane Grant is an American singer and songwriter of contemporary Christian music. She received the Gospel Music Association's Dove Award for Female Vocalist of the Year four consecutive years, 2006–2009, and a…
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1971
Indian politician, 17th Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh
Yeduguri Sandinti Jagan Mohan Reddy, also known mononymously as Jagan, is an Indian politician and a Member of Legislative Assembly representing Pulivendula Assembly constituency in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative…
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1972
Georgian colonel and politician, Georgian Minister of Defense
Irakli Alasania is a Georgian politician, soldier and former diplomat who served as the Minister of Defense of Georgia from 2012 to 2014. He was Georgia's Ambassador to the United Nations from September 11, 2006, until…
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1973
Argentine footballer and manager
Matías Jesús Almeyda is an Argentine professional football manager and former player.
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1973
Australian golfer
Karrie Anne Webb is an Australian professional golfer. She plays mainly on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour, and also turns out once or twice a year on the ALPG Tour in her home country. She is a member of the World Golf Hall…
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1974
Argentine ballerina
Paloma Herrera is a prominent Argentine ballet dancer, choreographer, and artistic director who was a principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre, where she worked for twenty-four years. She was the director of Colon…
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1975
American baseball player
Earl Lester "Buddy" Carlyle is an American former professional baseball pitcher and current coach. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, New York…
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1977
Barbadian cricketer
Corey Dalanelo Collymore is a former Barbadian cricketer, who represented the West Indies team in both Tests and ODIs cricket as seam bowler. Collymore was a member of the West Indies team that won the 2004 ICC…
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1977
New Zealand rugby player
Leon Raymond MacDonald is a retired New Zealand rugby union footballer, and former head coach for the Auckland Blues rugby team, who played 56 tests for the national team, the All Blacks. He played as a first…
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1977
French politician, 25th President of France
Emmanuel Jean-Michel Frédéric Macron is a French politician who has served as President of France and Co-Prince of Andorra since 2017. He served as Minister of Economics and Finance under President François Hollande…
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1977
American baseball player
Frederick Phillip Sanchez Jr. is an American former professional baseball second baseman. Sanchez played in Major League Baseball for the Boston Red Sox (2002–2003), Pittsburgh Pirates (2004–2009) and San Francisco…
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1977
Italian swimmer
Emiliano Brembilla is a freestyle swimmer from Italy who was five-time individual European Champion, four in 400 m freestyle and one in 1500 m freestyle (1997).
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1978
American pornographic actor, dancer, model, and mixed martial arts fighter
Charles Dera is a former Marine, an American adult entertainer, actor, mixed martial artist and former exotic dancer. Dera has received several adult industry awards, including the NightMoves Award for Male Performer of…
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1978
South African musician, singer, and guitarist
Shaun Morgan Welgemoed is a South African musician. He is the lead singer, songwriter, and rhythm guitarist for the rock band Seether.
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1978
American actress
Rutina Wesley is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Tara Thornton in the HBO fantasy drama series True Blood, Nova Bordelon on the OWN drama series Queen Sugar, and Maria Miller in the HBO…
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1978
Canadian ice hockey player (died 2015)
Steven Richard "The Matador" Montador was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played 571 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Calgary Flames, Florida Panthers, Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins,…
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1979
Spanish basketball player
Marta Fernández Farrés is a retired Spanish women's basketball player. A 1.80 m guard, she won three bronze medals with the Spain women's national basketball team. At club level, she played in 2007 with the Los Angeles…
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1981
Italian footballer
Cristian Zaccardo is an Italian former footballer who played as a defender. He mainly played as a centre back, although he was also capable of playing as a full-back or in midfield.
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1981
Puerto Rican wrestler
Edwin Carlos Colón Coates is a Puerto Rican professional wrestler. He works with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) as Eddie Colón and is in a tag team with his cousin Orlando Colón. He is best known for his tenure in…
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1982
American baseball player
Philip Gregory Humber is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He pitched for the New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Kansas City Royals, Chicago White Sox, and Houston Astros in seven seasons in Major League…
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1982
1982
American baseball player
Taylor Hill Teagarden is an American former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2008 to 2015 for the Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, and Chicago Cubs.
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1983
English actor
Thomas Sidney Jerome Sturridge is an English actor. His early films include Being Julia (2004), Like Minds (2006), and The Boat That Rocked (2009). He was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his…
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1985
American baseball player
Khristopher Adrian Davis, nicknamed “Khrush”, is an American former professional baseball left fielder and designated hitter. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics and…
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1987
American baseball player
Daniel Richard Duffy is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals.
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1988
English sprinter and hurdler
Peirresha Alexandra Shakes-Drayton is a British retired track and field athlete. After specialising in the 400 metres hurdles in the early part of her career, a knee injury at the 2013 World Championships forced…
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1988
American football player
Mark Valentino Ingram II is an American former professional football running back and current on-air personality for Fox Sports. He played 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for…
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1989
1989
Australian cricketer
Nicolas James Maddinson is an Australian cricketer. He is a left-handed opening batsman who has represented Australia in both Test matches and Twenty20 Internationals. Domestically, he plays for New South Wales and the…
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1991
1991
Italian footballer
Riccardo Saponara is an Italian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder.
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1991
American football player
Ha'Sean Treshon "Ha Ha" Clinton-Dix is an American former professional football player who was a safety for seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the Green Bay Packers. He played college…
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1992
Canadian ice hockey player
Jamieson Oleksiak is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is a defenceman for the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nicknamed the "Big Rig", Oleksiak was selected 14th overall in the first…
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1992
Australian rugby league player
Luke Brooks is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a five-eighth for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League (NRL).
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1994
English footballer
Benjamin James Chilwell is an English professional footballer who plays as a left-back or left wing-back for Ligue 1 club Strasbourg.
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1996
American actress
Kaitlyn Rochelle Dever is an American actress. She is best known for her roles in the television series Justified (2011–2015), Last Man Standing (2011–2021), Unbelievable (2019), Dopesick (2021), Apple Cider Vinegar…
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1996
American actress and model
Madelyn Cline is an American actress and model. She is best known for her roles in the Netflix teen drama series Outer Banks (2020–present), in Rian Johnson's mystery film Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022), and…
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1997
American ice hockey player
Charles Patrick McAvoy Jr. is an American professional ice hockey player who is a defenseman and alternate captain for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected 14th overall in the 2016 NHL…
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1997
Danish tennis player
Clara Tauson is a Danish professional tennis player. Her career-high rankings are world No. 12 in singles on 8 September 2025 and No. 65 in doubles on 16 February 2025. Tauson has won three WTA Tour titles, all on…
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2002
American basketball player
Cooper Flagg is an American professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was the first overall pick of the 2025 NBA draft, selected by the Mavericks, and…
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2006
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Famous birthdays
Who was born on December 21?
Steven Yeun — South Korean and American actor (born 1983)
FeaturedSteven Yeun
Birth year1983
Known forHe rose to prominence for playing Glenn Rhee in the television series The Walking Dead (2010–2016)
Birthdays on this date177 (968 – 2006)
Explore December 21
Jump between the main pages for this date to compare events, people, and the daily quiz.
Also on December 21 in History
2023
Fourteen people are killed and 25 others injured during a mass shooting at Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic. Wikipedia →
2020
A great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn occurs, with the two planets separated in the sky by 0.1 degrees. This is the closest conjunction between the two planets since 1623. Wikipedia →
2012
See all events on December 21
2012 phenomenon: Festivities are held in parts of Mesoamerica to commemorate the conclusion of b'ak'tun 13, a roughly 5,126-year-long cycle in the Mesoamerican Long Count Calendar whose passing many New Age spiritualists had earlier held to portend a variety of cataclysmic or transformative events. Wikipedia →
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