Did you know
Anthony Fauci was one of the world's most frequently cited scientists across all scientific journals from 1983 to 2002.
Famous Birthdays on December 24
1940 — Anthony Fauci
American physician, Director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
December 24 has 222 recorded notable births across history, from 3 BC to 2002. This focused page highlights 20 people with the strongest available profile context.
By thisDay.info Editorial Team · — Wikipedia
Famous Birthdays
222 source records
3 BC – 2002
Capricorn
Today in history
Major events on December 24
See what else happened on this day in history.
- 1979 The first Ariane 1 rocket is launched from ELA-1 at the Guiana Space Centre. Source
- 1968 Apollo program: The crew of Apollo 8 enters into orbit around the Moon, becoming the first humans to do so. They performed ten lunar orbits, took the Earthrise photograph, broadcast live TV pictures, and read the first ten verses of Genesis. Source
- 1939 World War II: Pope Pius XII makes a Christmas Eve appeal for peace. Source
- 1814 Representatives of the United Kingdom and the United States sign the Treaty of Ghent, ending the War of 1812. Source
Did you know
Edward Samuel Miliband is a British politician who has served as Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs since July 2026.
Did you know
Ricky Martin began his solo career in 1991 while in Sony Music Mexico, gaining recognition in Latin America with the release of his first two studio albums, Ricky Martin (1991) and Me Amaras (1993), both of which were focused on ballads.
Did you know
Neeraj Chopra won the Olympic gold medal in 2020 and became the first Asian javelin thrower to do so.
Did you know
Marcelo Salas stood out during the 1990s and 2000s in clubs such as Universidad de Chile, River Plate, Lazio and Juventus.
More major people born on December 24
Notable people are ranked by substantive profile depth and public notability.
1969
Ed Miliband
English academic and politician, Minister for the Cabinet Office
Edward Samuel Miliband is a British politician who has served as Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs since July 2026.
1971
Ricky Martin
Puerto Rican singer-songwriter and actor
Enrique "Ricky" Martín Morales is a Puerto Rican singer and songwriter.
1997
Neeraj Chopra
Indian javelin thrower
Lieutenant Colonel Neeraj Chopra is an Indian javelin thrower. He has won gold medals at the Olympic Games, World Championships, Commonwealth Games, Asian Championships and Asian Games.
1974
Marcelo Salas
Chilean footballer
José Marcelo Salas Melinao, nicknamed Matador, El Fenómeno and Shileno, is a Chilean former footballer who played as a striker. Salas is considered the best striker in the history of Chile.
1943
Tarja Halonen
Finnish lawyer and politician, 11th President of Finland
Tarja Kaarina Halonen is a Finnish politician who served as the president of Finland, and the first and to date only woman to hold the position in Finland, from 2000 to 2012.
1980
Tomas Kalnoky
Czech-American singer-songwriter and guitarist
Tomas Kalnoky is a Czechoslovak-born American musician. He is the lead singer/guitarist and songwriter of the bands Streetlight Manifesto and Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution, and goes by the pseudonym Toh Kay as a…
1918
Dave Bartholomew
American bandleader, composer and arranger (died 2019)
David Louis Bartholomew was an American musician, bandleader, composer, arranger, and record producer. He was prominent in the music of New Orleans throughout the second half of the 20th century.
1944
Woody Shaw
American trumpeter (died 1989)
Woody Herman Shaw Jr. was an American jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, composer, arranger, band leader, and educator.
1906
Franz Waxman
German-American composer and conductor (died 1967)
Franz Waxman was a German-born composer and conductor of Jewish descent, known primarily for his work in the film music genre.
1969
Pernille Fischer Christensen
Danish director and screenwriter
Pernille Fischer Christensen is a Danish film director and the older sister of actress Stine Fischer Christensen. She started out in the movie business when she was 20 years old as an assistant to Tómas Gislason.
1923
William C. Schneider
American aerospace engineer (died 1999)
William Charles Schneider was an American aerospace engineer. He served in the United States Naval Reserve 1942–1946 as an Aviation Machinist's Mate, 1st Class Petty Officer.
1166
John
King of England (died 1216)
John was King of England from 1199 until his death in 1216. He lost the Duchy of Normandy and most of his other French lands to King Philip II of France, resulting in the collapse of the Angevin Empire and contributing…
1905
Howard Hughes
American businessman, engineer, and pilot (died 1976)
Howard Robard Hughes Jr. was an American aviator, aerospace engineer, business magnate, film producer, and investor. He was one of the richest and most influential people in the world during his lifetime.
1974
Ryan Seacrest
American radio host and television personality, and producer
Ryan John Seacrest is an American television host and producer. Seacrest is the host of Wheel of Fortune, having hosted since replacing long-time host Pat Sajak in September 2024.
1892
Ruth Chatterton
American actress (died 1961)
Ruth Chatterton was an American stage, film, and television actress, aviator and novelist.
1903
Joseph Cornell
American sculptor and director (died 1972)
Joseph Cornell was an American visual artist and filmmaker, one of the pioneers and most celebrated exponents of assemblage. Influenced by the Surrealists, he was also an avant-garde experimental filmmaker.
1883
Stefan Jaracz
Polish actor and producer (died 1945)
Stefan Jaracz was a Polish actor and theater producer. He served as the artistic director of Ateneum Theatre in Warsaw during the interwar period (1930–32), and within a short period raised its reputation as one of the…
1991
Sofia Black-D'Elia
American actress
Sofia Black-D'Elia is an American actress. She is known for her television roles, such as Tea Marvelli in Skins, Sage Spence in Gossip Girl, Andrea Cornish in The Night Of, and Frannie Latimer in Your Honor.
1596
Leonaert Bramer
Dutch painter (died 1674)
Leonaert Bramer, also Leendert or Leonard, was a Dutch painter known primarily for genre, religious, and history paintings.