Did you know
He was the editor-in-chief of Voetbal International, the Netherlands' most prominent football magazine, from 2000 until his retirement in 2013
Famous Birthdays on January 31
192 people
1512 – 2006
January 31 has seen 192 notable people enter the world across recorded history — from 1512 – 2006. Below are the most significant names born on this date.
By thisDay.info Editorial Team · — Wikipedia
1949 — Johan Derksen
Dutch footballer and journalist
Did you know
He played professional football between 1966 and 1978 for six clubs: Go Ahead Eagles, Cambuur, Veendam, HFC Haarlem, SV Meppen and MVV Maastricht
Did you know
During and after his footballing career, he became a sports journalist, specialising in football
Did you know
Derksen was while working at Voetbal International and after his retirement a television football pundit on RTL7's Voetbal International and Veronica Inside on Veronica TV
Did you know
His current TV talkshow is Vandaag Inside on SBS6.
1512
Japanese shōgun (died 1616)
Tokugawa Ieyasu was a Japanese samurai, daimyo and the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, which ruled from 1603 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was the third of the three "Great…
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1543
English and later American Puritan (died 1659)
Peter Bulkley was an influential early Puritan minister who left England for greater religious freedom in the American colony of Massachusetts. He was a founder of Concord, and was named by descendant Ralph Waldo…
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1583
French priest and saint (died 1640)
John Francis Regis, SJ, commonly known Saint Regis, was a French Jesuit priest who was canonized in 1737. A tireless preacher and social reformer, Regis is best known for his work with at-risk women and orphans.
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1597
7th Earl of Derby (died 1651)
James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby was an English nobleman, politician, and supporter of the Royalist cause in the English Civil War. Before inheriting the title in 1642 he was known as Lord Strange. He was feudal Lord of…
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1607
Flemish philosopher and academic (died 1669)
Arnold Geulincx, also known by his pseudonym Philaretus, was a Flemish philosopher, metaphysician, and logician. He was one of the followers of René Descartes who tried to work out more detailed versions of a generally…
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1624
French priest and saint (died 1716)
Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort, SMM was a French Catholic priest known for his influence on Catholic Mariology. He wrote a number of books that went on to become classic Catholic titles, including Secret of the Rosary…
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1673
Norwegian missionary and explorer (died 1758)
Hans Poulsen Egede was a Norwegian Lutheran priest and missionary who launched mission efforts to Greenland, which led him to be styled the Apostle of Greenland. He established a successful mission among the Inuit and…
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1686
American lawyer, politician, and diplomat, United States Ambassador to France (died 1816)
Gouverneur Morris was an American statesman, a Founding Father of the United States, and a signatory to the Articles of Confederation and the United States Constitution. He wrote the Preamble to the United States…
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1752
French flute player and composer (died 1803)
François Devienne was a French composer of the Classical period and professor for flute at the Paris Conservatory.
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1759
French balloonist and the inventor of the frameless parachute (died 1823)
André-Jacques Garnerin was a French balloonist and the inventor of the frameless parachute. He was appointed Official Aeronaut of France.
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1769
Czech cookbook author (died 1845)
Magdalena Dobromila Rettigová was a Czech writer known for her famous cookery book.
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1785
Austrian pianist and composer (died 1828)
Franz Peter Schubert was an Austrian composer of the late Classical and early Romantic eras. Despite his short life, Schubert left behind a vast oeuvre of more than 1,000 compositions, including over 600 Lieder and…
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1797
German actress, singer and pianist (died 1860)
Karoline Christine Genast was a German actress, singer and pianist.
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1798
Swiss teacher, author, painter, cartoonist, and caricaturist (died 1846)
Rodolphe Töpffer was a Swiss teacher, author, painter, cartoonist, and caricaturist. He is best known for his illustrated books, which are possibly the earliest European comics. He is known as the father of comic strips…
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1799
American politician, 28th Governor of Massachusetts (died 1887)
William Barrett Washburn was an American businessman and politician from Massachusetts. Washburn served several terms in the United States House of Representatives (1863–71) and as the 28th governor of Massachusetts…
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1820
Lunalilo was the sixth monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii from his election on January 8, 1873, until his death a year later.
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1835
Romanian mathematician and academic (died 1941)
David Emmanuel was a Romanian Jewish mathematician and member of the Romanian Academy, considered to be the founder of the modern mathematics school in Romania.
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1854
French cyclist and journalist (died 1940)
Henri Desgrange was a French bicycle racer and sports journalist. He set twelve world track cycling records, including the hour record of 35.325 kilometres (21.950 mi) on 11 May 1893. He was the first organiser of the…
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1865
Indian spiritual leader, founded BAPS (died 1951)
Shastriji Maharaj, born Dungar Patel and ordained Shastri Yagnapurushdas, was a swami of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya and founder of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS). Several branches…
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1865
American chemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1928)
Theodore William Richards was an American physical chemist and the first American scientist to receive the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, earning the award "in recognition of his exact determinations of the atomic weights of…
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1868
1872
1876
Norwegian singer (died 1930)
Marta Christine Sandal was a Norwegian mezzo-soprano, best known for singing songs by Edvard Grieg.
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1878
American chemist and physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1957)
Irving Langmuir was an American chemist, physicist, and metallurgical engineer. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1932 for his work in surface chemistry.
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1881
German journalist and politician, 1st President of the Federal Republic of Germany (died 1963)
Theodor Heuss was a German politician who served as the first president of West Germany from 1949 to 1959. His civil demeanour and cordial nature – somewhat a contrast to German nationalist traditions and the stern…
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1884
Azerbaijani scholar and politician, 1st President of The Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan (died 1955)
Mahammad Amin Akhund Haji Molla Alakbar oghlu Rasulzade was an Azerbaijani politician, journalist and the head of the Azerbaijani National Council. He is mainly considered the founder of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic…
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1884
English cricketer (died 1958)
Frank Rowbotham Foster was an English amateur cricketer who played for Warwickshire County Cricket Club from 1908 to 1914, and in Test cricket for England in 1911 and 1912. He was born in Birmingham, educated at…
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1889
American singer-songwriter, actor, and dancer (died 1964)
Edward "Eddie" Cantor was an American comedian, actor, dancer, singer, songwriter, film producer, screenwriter and author. Cantor was one of the prominent entertainers of his era.
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1892
American saxophonist, composer, and bandleader (died 1956)
Isham Edgar Jones was an American bandleader, saxophonist, bassist and songwriter.
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1894
Russian mathematician and historian (died 1966)
Sofya Aleksandrovna Yanovskaya was a Soviet mathematician, philosopher and historian, specializing in the history of mathematics, mathematical logic, and philosophy of mathematics. She is best known for her efforts in…
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1896
American artist, art dealer and collector (died 1982)
Betty Parsons was an American artist, art dealer, and collector known for her early promotion of Abstract Expressionism. She is regarded as one of the most influential and dynamic figures of the American avant-garde.
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1900
Canadian businessman, founded White Spot (died 1978)
Nathaniel Ryal Bailey, better known as Nat Bailey, was an American-born Canadian restaurateur, and the founder of White Spot restaurants. He is known for building the first drive-in restaurant in Canada, in 1928, and…
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1902
American actress (died 1968)
Tallulah Brockman Bankhead was an American actress. Primarily an actress of the stage, Bankhead also appeared in several films including an award-winning performance in Alfred Hitchcock's Lifeboat (1944). She also had a…
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1902
Swedish sociologist and politician, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1986)
Alva Myrdal was a Swedish sociologist, diplomat and politician. She was a prominent leader of the disarmament movement. She, along with Alfonso García Robles, received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1982. She married Gunnar…
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1902
American anthropologist (died 1972)
Julian Haynes Steward was an American anthropologist known best for his role in developing "the concept and method" of cultural ecology, as well as a scientific theory of culture change.
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1902
American author, playwright, and screenwriter (died 1970)
John Henry O'Hara was an American writer. He was one of America's most prolific writers of short stories, credited with helping to invent The New Yorker magazine short story style. He became a best-selling novelist…
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1905
Romanian-English journalist (died 1995)
Miron Grindea was a Romanian-British literary journalist and the editor of ADAM International Review, a literary magazine published for more than 50 years. In 1984, ADAM was said to be "the world's longest surviving…
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1909
American football player and coach (died 1997)
Donald Montgomery Hutson, nicknamed "the Alabama Antelope", was an American professional football player and coach in the National Football League (NFL). In the era of the one-platoon football, he played as an end and…
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1913
American boxer and police officer (died 1994)
Arnold Raymond Cream, best known as Jersey Joe Walcott, was an American professional boxer who competed from 1930 to 1953. He held the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC), National Boxing Association (NBA), and…
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1914
American trumpet player and cornet player (died 1976)
Robert Leo Hackett was a versatile American jazz musician who played swing music, Dixieland jazz and mood music, now called easy listening, on trumpet, cornet, and guitar. He played Swing with the bands of Glenn Miller…
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1915
American historian, author, and scholar (died 2002)
Alan Lomax was an American ethnomusicologist, best known for his numerous field recordings of folk music during the 20th century. He was a musician, folklorist, archivist, writer, scholar, political activist, oral…
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1915
American baseball player and sportscaster (died 1972)
Jack Roosevelt Robinson was an American professional baseball player who was the first African American to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the modern era. Robinson broke the color line when he started at first…
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1919
American lawyer and politician, 37th United States Secretary of the Interior (died 2010)
Stewart Lee Udall was an American politician and environmentalist who belonged to the Democratic Party. After serving three terms as a congressman from Arizona, he served as Secretary of the Interior from 1961 to 1969,…
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1920
English footballer (died 2014)
Bert Frederick Williams MBE was an English international football goalkeeper. Nicknamed The Cat, he spent the majority of his playing career at Wolverhampton Wanderers where he won the League Championship and FA Cup. At…
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1920
1921
American actress, singer, and dancer (died 2019)
Carol Elaine Channing was an American actress, comedian, singer and dancer who starred in Broadway and film musicals. Each of her characters typically possessed a fervent expressiveness and an easily identifiable voice.
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1921
American architect, designed the Thorncrown Chapel (died 2004)
Euine Fay Jones was an American architect and designer. An apprentice of Frank Lloyd Wright during his professional career, Jones is the only one of Wright's disciples to have received the AIA Gold Medal (1990), the…
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1921
American tenor and actor (died 1959)
Mario Lanza was an American tenor and actor. He was a Hollywood film star popular in the late 1940s and the 1950s. Lanza began studying to be a professional singer at the age of 16. After appearing at the Hollywood Bowl…
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1921
American actress (died 1996)
Joanne Dru was an American film and television actress, known for such films as Red River, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, All the King's Men, and Wagon Master.
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1922
American journalist and author (died 2007)
Nachem Malech Mailer, known by his pen name Norman Kingsley Mailer, was an American writer, journalist, and filmmaker. In a career spanning more than six decades, Mailer had 11 best-selling books, at least one in each…
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1923
American minister, lawyer, and activist (died 2010)
Benjamin Lawson Hooks was an American civil rights leader and government official. A Baptist minister and practicing attorney, he served as executive director of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored…
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1925
American baseball player (died 1993)
Thomas Edison Alston was an American Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1954 to 1957, the first African-American to do so. A native of Greensboro, North Carolina, he stood…
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1926
American singer-songwriter (died 1958)
Harold "Chuck" Willis was an American blues, rhythm and blues, and rock and roll singer and songwriter. His biggest hits, "C. C. Rider" (1957) and "What Am I Living For" (1958), both reached No. 1 on the Billboard R&B…
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1926
American animator, producer, and composer, co-founded Filmation Studios (died 2005)
Norman Zachary Prescott was co-founder and executive producer at Filmation Associates, an animation studio he created with veteran animator Lou Scheimer.
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1927
Polish Roman Catholic prelate and theologian (died 2026)
Julian Andrzej Antoni Wojtkowski was a Polish Roman Catholic prelate and theologian, who served as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Warmia from 1969 until his resignation in 2004. He also held the titular see of…
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1927
American computer scientist and engineer (died 2015)
Irma M. Wyman was an early computer engineer and the first woman to become vice president of Honeywell, Inc. She was a systems thinking tutor and was the first female CIO of Honeywell, Inc., then a Fortune 100 company.
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1928
German physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (died 2011)
Rudolf Ludwig Mössbauer was a German physicist who shared the 1961 Nobel Prize in Physics with Robert Hofstadter for his discovery of the Mössbauer effect, which is the basis for Mössbauer spectroscopy.
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1929
English-American actress (died 2010)
Jean Merilyn Simmons was a British actress and singer. One of J. Arthur Rank's "well-spoken young starlets", she appeared predominantly in films, beginning with those made in Britain during and after the Second World…
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1929
Swedish racing driver (died 1972)
Joakim "Jo" Bonnier was a Swedish racing driver and team owner, who competed in Formula One from 1956 to 1971. Bonnier won the 1959 Dutch Grand Prix with BRM.
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1930
American composer, conductor, and producer (died 2012)
Alfred V. De Lory was an American record producer, arranger, conductor and session musician. He was the producer and arranger of a series of worldwide hits by Glen Campbell in the 1960s, including John Hartford's…
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1930
American baseball player and coach (died 2015)
Ernest Banks, nicknamed "Mr. Cub" and "Mr. Sunshine", was an American professional baseball player who starred in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a shortstop and first baseman for the Chicago Cubs between 1953 and 1971.…
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1931
English runner, journalist, and politician (died 2014)
Sir Christopher John Chataway was a British middle- and long-distance runner, television news broadcaster and Conservative politician.
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1931
Polish sea captain (died 2013)
Miron Babiak was a Polish sea captain who is best known for commanding the RV Profesor Siedlecki Antarctica research ship.
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1932
Canadian ice hockey player and coach (died 1997)
Joseph Wilfred Camille "The Eel" Henry was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger/centre who played for the New York Rangers, Chicago Black Hawks, and St. Louis Blues in the National Hockey League.
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1933
American cardiologist and inventor (died 2022)
Morton Maimon Mower was an American cardiologist specializing in electrophysiology and the co-inventor of the automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator. He served in several professional capacities at Sinai…
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1933
Italian motorcycle racer and racing driver (died 2020)
Ernesto "Tino" Brambilla was a Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and a professional race car driver from Italy. Born in Monza, he was the brother of driver Vittorio Brambilla. In 1959, he finished in tenth place in the…
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1934
American actor and producer (died 1991)
James Grover Franciscus was an American actor, known for his roles in feature films and in six television series: Mr. Novak, Naked City, The Investigators, Longstreet, Doc Elliot, and Hunter.
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1934
Japanese author and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (died 2023)
Kenzaburō Ōe was a Japanese writer and a major figure in contemporary Japanese literature. His novels, short stories and essays, strongly influenced by French and American literature and literary theory, deal with…
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1935
1936
Austrian diplomat (died 2026)
Franz Ceska was an Austrian diplomat. He was the ambassador to Belgium from 1982 to 1988, permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva from 1988 to 1991, secretary general of the Federation of Austrian…
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1936
Lithuanian actor (died 2022)
Regimantas Adomaitis was a Lithuanian film and stage actor. He was also active in Russia and Germany.
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1937
Canadian educator and politician, 39th Mayor of Quebec City (died 2007)
Andrée Plamondon Boucher was a Canadian politician from the province of Quebec. She was the mayor of Quebec City from November 19, 2005, until her death. Previously, she had been the mayor of the city of Sainte-Foy,…
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1937
American composer
Philip Morris Glass is an American composer and pianist. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century. Glass's work has been associated with minimalism, being built up from…
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1937
American actress (died 2008)
Suzanne Pleshette was an American actress known for her roles in theatre, film, and television. She was nominated for three Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards. For her role as Emily Hartley on the CBS sitcom The…
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1937
Beatrix is a member of the Dutch royal house who reigned as Queen of the Netherlands from 30 April 1980 until her abdication in 2013.
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1938
American actress
Mary Lynn Carlin is an American retired actress. For her debut role in the 1968 John Cassavetes film Faces, she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, becoming the first nonprofessional…
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1938
American lawyer and politician, 43rd United States Secretary of the Interior (died 2023)
James Gaius Watt was an American lawyer, lobbyist, and civil servant who served as Secretary of the Interior in the Ronald Reagan administration from 1981 to 1983. He was described as "anti-environmentalist" and was one…
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1938
South African rugby player and coach (died 1998)
George Moir Christie, better known as Kitch Christie, was a South African rugby union coach best known for coaching the country's national team, the Springboks, to victory at the 1995 Rugby World Cup. He remained…
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1940
American actor and director (died 2022)
Stuart Margolin was an American actor, director, and screenwriter. He was known for playing Evelyn "Angel" Martin on the 1970s television series The Rockford Files, winning two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting…
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1940
American basketball player (died 2018)
Leonard Roy Chappell was an American basketball player. He played for 10 years in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the American Basketball Association (ABA) and was selected to one NBA All-Star Game. He…
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1941
American lawyer and politician
Richard Andrew Gephardt is an American attorney, lobbyist, and politician who represented Missouri's 3rd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1977 to 2005. A member of the Democratic…
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1941
American author and illustrator (died 2012)
Gerald McDermott was an American film-maker, creator of children's picture books, and expert on mythology. His creative works typically combine bright colors and styles with ancient imagery. His picture books feature…
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1941
American actress (died 2021)
Jessica Ann Walter was an American actress who appeared in more than 170 film, stage, and television productions.
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1941
Italian actress
Daniela Bianchi is an Italian former actress, model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universo Italia 1960 and represented her country at Miss Universe 1960 where she placed 1st Runner-Up. She is known…
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1942
English director, stage designer, and author (died 1994)
Michael Derek Elworthy Jarman was an English artist, film maker, stage designer, writer, gardener, and gay rights activist, regarded as one of the most influential figures associated with the new queer cinema. Trained…
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1942
Australian cricketer and coach
Robert John Inverarity is a former Australian cricketer who played six Test matches. A right-handed batsman and left-arm orthodox spin bowler in his playing career, Inverarity was also one of the enduring captains in…
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1944
American musician and singer-songwriter
Charles Douglas Musselwhite is an American blues harmonica player and bandleader who came to prominence, along with Mike Bloomfield, Paul Butterfield, and Elvin Bishop, as a pivotal figure in helping to revive the…
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1944
American historian and author (died 2014)
Rynn Berry was an American author and scholar on vegetarianism and veganism, as well as a pioneer in the animal rights and vegan movements.
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1945
Baroness Hale of Richmond, English lawyer, judge, and academic
Brenda Marjorie Hale, Baroness Hale of Richmond,, is a British judge who served as President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom from 2017 until her retirement in 2020.
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1945
American sculptor and theorist
Joseph Kosuth is an American conceptual artist, who lives in New York and Venice, after having resided in various cities in Europe, including London, Ghent and Rome.
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1945
Australian journalist and radio host
Michael James Carlton, is an Australian former media commentator, radio host, television journalist, author and newspaper columnist. He formerly co-hosted the daily breakfast program on Sydney radio station 2UE with…
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1946
American guitarist and singer-songwriter (died 1978)
Terry Alan Kath was an American guitarist and singer who is best known as a founding member of the rock band Chicago. He played lead guitar and sang lead vocals on many of the band's early hit singles alongside Robert…
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1946
Albanian footballer and manager (died 2012)
Medin Zhega was an Albanian professional football manager and player, who played as a forward.
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1946
American actor
Jonathan Ray Banks is an American actor. He played FBI Special Agent Frank McPike in the television series Wiseguy (1987–1990). For his role, he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting…
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1947
Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist
Matt Minglewood is a Canadian musician whose style can be described as a blend of country, blues, folk, roots, and rock. The name "Matt" was borrowed from his brother, Matt Batherson.
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1947
American baseball player
Lynn Nolan Ryan Jr., nicknamed "the Ryan Express", is an American former professional baseball pitcher and sports executive. Over a record 27-year playing career in Major League Baseball (MLB), Ryan pitched for the New…
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1947
American actor
Glynn Turman is an American actor. First coming to attention as a child actor in the original 1959 Broadway production of A Raisin in the Sun, Turman is known for his roles as Lew Miles on the prime-time soap opera…
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1947
German footballer (died 2014)
Volkmar Groß was a German professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He spent seven seasons in the Bundesliga with Hertha BSC, Tennis Borussia Berlin and FC Schalke 04. He represented West Germany once in a…
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1948
Japanese politician
Muneo Suzuki, commonly known simply as "Muneo" due to his common last name, is a Japanese politician from Ashoro, Hokkaido, currently serving as a member of the House of Councillors since 2019, representing the National…
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1948
American model and educator (died 2010)
Norris Church Mailer was an American novelist, actress, artist, and model. Norris published two novels, Windchill Summer and Cheap Diamonds, and a memoir, A Ticket to the Circus, which focuses on her nearly thirty-year…
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1949
American sociologist, philosopher, and author
Kenneth Earl Wilber Jr. is an American writer on transpersonal psychology and his own integral theory, a four-quadrant grid which purports to model all human knowledge and experience.
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1949
American author and illustrator
Denise K. Fleming is an American creator of children's picture books. She was born in Toledo, Ohio. She graduated in illustration from Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
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1950
Russian general and bodyguard
Alexander Vasilyevich Korzhakov is a Russian former KGB general who served as Boris Yeltsin's bodyguard, confidant, and adviser for eleven years. He was the head of the Presidential Security Service (PSB) from 1991 to…
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1950
American-Israeli author and poet (died 2015)
Janice Rebibo was an American-born Israeli poet who began writing in Hebrew in the mid-1980s.
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1950
American singer-songwriter, pianist, and producer
Harry Wayne Casey, better known by his stage name KC, is an American record producer, musician, and songwriter. He is best known for his band, KC and the Sunshine Band, with co-founder Richard Finch. Casey has enjoyed…
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1951
Guyanese cricketer
Sheik Faoud Ahamul Fasiel Bacchus is a Guyanese former cricketer who played for the West Indies and the United States. He was a member of the West Indies squad which won the 1979 Cricket World Cup.
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1954
Dutch guitarist and songwriter
Adriaan van den Berg, known as Adrian "Adje" Vandenberg, is a Dutch rock guitarist, best known for his tenure as one of the guitarists in Whitesnake during their successful late 1980s period and the band Vandenberg…
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1954
Romanian tennis player and manager
Virginia Ruzici is a Romanian former professional tennis player. She won the 1978 French Open singles championship.
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1955
English singer-songwriter
John Joseph Lydon, also known by his former stage name Johnny Rotten, is an English-born singer, songwriter, author, and television personality. He was the lead vocalist of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols, which was…
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1956
Dutch programmer, creator of the Python programming language
Guido van Rossum is a Dutch programmer. He is the creator of the Python programming language, for which he was the "benevolent dictator for life" (BDFL) until he stepped down from the position on 12 July 2018. He…
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1956
American swimmer
Shirley Frances Babashoff is an American former competition swimmer, Olympic champion, and former world record-holder in multiple events. Babashoff set six world records and earned a total of nine Olympic medals in her…
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1957
German footballer and manager
Armin Reichel is a German former professional football goalkeeper.
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1958
Australian actor and producer
Anthony LaPaglia is an Australian actor. Known for his roles on stage and screen he has received several accolades including three AACTA Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Tony Award.
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1959
American model and actress
Kelly Lynch is an American film and television actress. She gained recognition for her roles in Cocktail and Road House (1989). She was subsequently nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead for…
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1959
Iranian journalist and author
Akbar Ganji is an Iranian journalist, writer and a former member of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He has been described as "Iran's preeminent political dissident", and a "wildly popular pro-democracy journalist"…
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1960
Scottish author and screenwriter
Grant Morrison is a Scottish comic book writer, screenwriter, and producer. Their work is known for its nonlinear narratives, humanist philosophy and countercultural leanings. Morrison has written extensively for the…
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1960
Montenegrin politician, 31st Prime Minister of Montenegro (died 2014)
Željko Šturanović was a Montenegrin politician who was the Prime Minister of Montenegro from 2006 until his resignation in 2008.
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1960
Baroness Barker, English politician
Elizabeth Jean Barker, Baroness Barker, is a Liberal Democrat member of the House of Lords.
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1961
Gambian lawyer and judge
Fatou Bom Bensouda is a Gambian lawyer and former Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), who has served as the Gambian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom since 3 August 2022.
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1961
English singer-songwriter and guitarist
Lloyd Cole is an English singer, songwriter and musician. He was lead vocalist of Lloyd Cole and the Commotions from 1984 to 1989 and subsequently worked solo.
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1961
Australian rugby league player
Bruce McGuire is an Australian former rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s.
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1962
American lawyer and politician
Gwendolyn Graham is an American attorney and politician who served as the U.S. representative for Florida's 2nd congressional district from 2015 to 2017. She is the daughter of Bob Graham, the former United States…
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1963
American journalist
Martha Bowes MacCallum is an American journalist and news anchor for Fox News. She is the executive editor and anchor of The Story with Martha MacCallum, broadcast from Manhattan Monday through Friday at 3PM ET, and…
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1964
American scientist
Dawn Prince-Hughes is an American anthropologist, primatologist, and ethologist. She is the author of several books, including Gorillas Among Us: A Primate Ethnographer's Book of Days and her memoir Songs of the Gorilla…
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1964
Greek basketball player and coach
The Greece men's national basketball team represents Greece in international basketball. They are controlled by the Hellenic Basketball Federation, the governing body for basketball in Greece. Greece is currently ranked…
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1965
Israeli-Canadian cellist
Ofra Harnoy is an Israeli-Canadian cellist. She is a Member of the Order of Canada. When she signed with RCA Victor Red Seal, Harnoy became the first Canadian classical instrumental soloist since Glenn Gould to gain an…
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1965
American author and radio host
Peter Daniel Sagal is an American humorist, writer, and host of the National Public Radio game show Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! and the PBS special Constitution USA with Peter Sagal.
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1965
English actor and director
Dexter Fletcher is a British film director and actor. He has appeared in Guy Ritchie's Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, as well as in television shows such as the comedy drama Hotel Babylon and the HBO series Band…
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1966
Myanmar historian, diplomat, conservationist, and former presidential advisor.
Thant Myint-U is an historian, writer, grandson of former United Nations Secretary-General U Thant, former UN official, former Myanmar peace process mediator, and an Honorary Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. He has…
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1966
1967
Scottish footballer and manager
John Angus Paul Collins is a Scottish professional football manager and former player who played as a midfielder.
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1968
1968
Swedish politician, 2nd Swedish Minister for Infrastructure
Ulrica Messing is a Swedish politician and civil servant who has served as Governor of Blekinge County since 2021. A member of the Social Democratic Party, she previously served as Minister for Infrastructure from 2000…
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1968
Belgian sprinter
Patrick Stevens is a retired sprinter from Belgium. He won the bronze medal in the 200 metres at the 1994 European Championships in Helsinki and a silver medal in the 200 m at the 2000 European Indoor Championships. He…
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1968
Canadian-American fashion designer and businessman, founded American Apparel
Dov Charney is a Canadian entrepreneur and clothing manufacturer. He is the founder of American Apparel, which was one of the largest garment manufacturers in the United States until its bankruptcy in 2015. Charney was…
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1969
American cinematographer
Daniel Richard Moder is an American cinematographer who has worked on such films as Secret in Their Eyes, The Mexican, and Fireflies in the Garden. He received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for his cinematography in…
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1969
English singer-songwriter and actress
Amelia Fiona Jessica "Minnie" Driver is a British and American actress and singer. She rose to prominence with her break-out role in the 1995 film Circle of Friends. She went on to star in a wide range of films,…
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1970
Canadian singer-songwriter and producer
Danny Michel is a Canadian songwriter and producer.
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1970
Venezuelan model and actress
Patricia Carola Velásquez Semprún is a Venezuelan actress, model, public speaker, and philanthropist. She is best known for portraying Anck-su-namun in the 1999 film The Mummy and its 2001 sequel The Mummy Returns.
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1971
Australian-American actress
Portia Lee James DeGeneres, known professionally as Portia de Rossi, is an Australian and American former actress. She played Nelle Porter on the American drama series Ally McBeal (1998–2002), for which she won a Screen…
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1973
American basketball player and coach
Othella Harrington is an American former professional basketball player. After he finished his high school career at Murrah High School, he played in college at Georgetown University where he teamed with future NBA star…
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1974
Cuban baseball player
Ariel Osvaldo Pestano Valdés, better known as El Veterano, is a Cuban former baseball catcher. He has won both silver and gold medals in the Olympic Games and also played catcher on Cuba's World Baseball Classic team in…
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1974
Indian actress, producer, and television host
Preity G. Zinta is an Indian actress and entrepreneur primarily known for her work in Hindi films. After graduating with degrees in English honours and criminal psychology, Zinta made her acting debut in Dil Se.. in…
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1975
Greek footballer and manager
Traianos Dellas is a Greek professional football manager and former player. He last managed Super League club OFI.
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1976
American racing driver
Buddy Rice is an American former professional race car driver. He is best known for winning the 2004 Indianapolis 500 while driving for Rahal Letterman Racing, and the 2009 24 Hours of Daytona for Brumos Racing.
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1976
American actor and comedian
Robert Michael Moynihan Jr. is an American comedian and actor. He was a cast member and writer for the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 2008 to 2017.
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1977
American actress
Kerry Marisa Washington is an American actress. She has received several accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award as well as nominations for two Golden Globe Awards and two Tony Awards. She was included in Time's 100…
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1977
Argentine footballer and manager
Néstor Fabián Caballero, commonly referred to as Tyson, was an Argentine-Paraguayan professional footballer who played as a forward.
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1978
English author and educator
Daniel Paul Tammet is an English writer and savant. His memoir, Born on a Blue Day (2006), is about his early life with Asperger syndrome and savant syndrome, and was named a "Best Book for Young Adults" in 2008 by the…
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1979
American comedian, actor, and screenwriter
James Adomian is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and impressionist. He is best known for his work on Comedy Bang! Bang!, Chapo Trap House, Last Comic Standing, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson where he…
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1980
Irish footballer
Gary Michael Thomas Doherty is an Irish former professional footballer who played as a defender, having previously also played as a forward. He gained international honours for the Republic of Ireland.
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1980
1980
British-American television journalist
Clarissa Ward is a British-American television journalist who is the chief international correspondent for CNN. Previously, she was with CBS News, based in London. Before her CBS News position, Ward was a Moscow-based…
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1980
Argentine footballer
Julio Andrés Arca is an Argentine former professional footballer, who played as a left-back or central midfielder. He was most recently manager of South Shields.
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1981
Australian cricketer
Mark Alan Cameron is an Australian former cricketer who played Australian domestic cricket for New South Wales.
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1981
English media personality and businesswoman
Gemma Clair Collins is an English media personality and businesswoman. She rose to prominence whilst appearing on the ITV reality series The Only Way Is Essex (2011–2019) and went on to appear on various other reality…
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1981
American singer-songwriter, dancer, and actor
Justin Randall Timberlake is an American singer, songwriter, actor, record producer, and dancer. Dubbed the "Prince of Pop", he is one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Billboard named him one of the…
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1981
Scottish footballer
Allan James McGregor is a Scottish former professional footballer and current goalkeeping coach at Rangers. McGregor has previously played for Rangers, St Johnstone, Dunfermline Athletic, Turkish team Beşiktaş, English…
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1982
Latvian ice hockey player
Jānis Sprukts is a retired Latvian professional ice hockey forward.
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1982
Italian footballer
Fabio Quagliarella is an Italian former professional footballer who played as a forward.
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1983
American football player
Vernon Leonard Davis is an American former professional football player who was a tight end in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Maryland Terrapins, earning first-team All-American…
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1984
German-Belarusian ice hockey player
Mikhail Yuryevich Hrabowski, better known as Mikhail Grabovski, is a German-born Belarusian professional ice hockey coach and former player. Grabovski serves as an assistant coach for HC Dinamo Minsk in the Kontinental…
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1984
Australian footballer
Adam Jay Federici is an Australian former professional soccer player who played as a goalkeeper.
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1985
American sprinter
Walter Dix is a retired American sprinter who specialized in the 100 meters and 200 meters. He is the seventh-fastest 200-meter runner ever with a best of 19.53 seconds, and has broken the 10-second barrier in the 100…
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1986
American film producer, founded Annapurna Pictures
Margaret "Megan" Elizabeth Ellison is an American film producer. She founded Annapurna Pictures in 2011. Her production work includes the films Zero Dark Thirty (2012), American Hustle (2013), Her (2013), and Phantom…
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1986
Cameroonian footballer
George Nganyuo Elokobi is a Cameroonian-French football coach and former player who is currently manager of National League South club Maidstone United.
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1986
Belgian footballer
Yves Makabu-Ma-Kalambay is a former professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper. He most recently played for English club Wycombe Wanderers. Ma-Kalambay has previously played for Chelsea, Watford, Hibernian,…
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1986
1986
American-English singer-songwriter
Marcus Oliver Johnstone Mumford is a British musician. He is the lead singer of the folk band Mumford & Sons and also plays a number of instruments with the group, including guitar, drums and mandolin.
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1987
English footballer
Brett Douglas Pitman is a Jèrriais footballer who plays as a forward for Wessex League Premier Division club Downton, where he holds the role of player-coach.
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1988
Estonian footballer
Taijo Teniste is an Estonian professional footballer who plays as a right back for Estonian Esiliiga club Tartu Welco and the Estonia national team.
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1988
American baseball player
Thomas Frank La Stella is an American former professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Angels, Oakland Athletics, San Francisco Giants,…
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1989
1990
Argentine basketball player
Nicolás "Nico" Laprovíttola is an Argentine professional basketball player for FC Barcelona of the Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroLeague. He is also a member of the Argentina national basketball team.
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1990
Canadian ice hockey player
Tyler Paul Seguin is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is a forward and alternate captain for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL).
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1992
1993
Danish footballer
Albin Kenneth Dahrup Zohore ; born 31 January 1994) is a Danish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Danish 2nd Division side Fremad Amager.
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1994
American actor
Joel Courtney is an American actor known for his role in the 2011 film Super 8 and for his starring role in Netflix's The Kissing Booth film series.
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1996
American YouTuber
Nikita Nguyen, known professionally as Nikita Dragun, is an American internet personality, YouTuber, make-up artist, and model.
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1996
Dutch footballer
Arnaut Danjuma Groeneveld is a professional footballer who plays as a left winger for La Liga club Valencia. Born in Nigeria, he has represented the Netherlands national team.
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1997
American basketball player
Donte Michael DiVincenzo is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Villanova Wildcats, where he won…
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1997
1997
1998
American basketball player
Jalen Marquis McDaniels is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the San Diego State Aztecs.…
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1998
Argentine footballer
Julián Alvarez is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for La Liga club Atlético Madrid and the Argentina national team.
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2000
South Korean actress
Hong Ye-ji is a South Korean actress. She first gained recognition in 2018 as a participant in the reality competition show Produce 48. She made her acting debut in the film 2037 (2022). She is known for her roles in A…
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2002
Spanish footballer
Beñat Turrientes Imaz is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for La Liga club Real Sociedad.
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2002
Czech tennis player
Sára Bejlek is a Czech professional tennis player.
She has a career-high WTA singles ranking of world No. 34, achieved on 6 April and a doubles ranking of No. 671, reached on 1 August 2022.
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2006
Argentine footballer
Gianluca Prestianni Gross is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a winger for Primeira Liga club Benfica and the Argentina national team.
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2006
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Famous birthdays
Who was born on January 31?
Johan Derksen — Dutch footballer and journalist (born 1949)
FeaturedJohan Derksen
Birth year1949
Known forHe played professional football between 1966 and 1978 for six clubs: Go Ahead Eagles, Cambuur, Veendam, HFC Haarlem, SV Meppen and MVV Maastricht
Birthdays on this date192 (1512 – 2006)
Explore January 31
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Also on January 31 in History
2025
Med Jets Flight 056 crashes near Roosevelt Mall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, killing 8 people and injuring 23. Wikipedia →
2023
The last Boeing 747, the first wide-body airliner, is delivered to Atlas Air and operated for ApexLogistics. The aircraft was registered as N863GT and named "Empower". Wikipedia →
2022
See all events on January 31
Sue Gray, a senior civil servant in the United Kingdom, publishes an initial version of her report on the Downing Street Partygate controversy. Wikipedia →
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