Did you know
After contributing to several key British groups of the early 1960s, McLaughlin made Extrapolation, his first album as a bandleader, in 1969
Famous Birthdays on January 4
196 people
659 – 2006
January 4 has seen 196 notable people enter the world across recorded history — from 659 – 2006. Below are the most significant names born on this date.
By thisDay.info Editorial Team · — Wikipedia
1942 — John McLaughlin
English guitarist and songwriter
Did you know
His 1970s electric band, the Mahavishnu Orchestra, performed a technically virtuosic and complex style of music that fused electric jazz and rock with Classical, Indian and other influences
Did you know
In 1974, he helped found Shakti, a seminal Indian-Jazz rock fusion band with Indian violinist L
Did you know
John McLaughlin, also previously known as Mahavishnu, is an English guitarist, bandleader, and composer
Did you know
A pioneer of jazz fusion, his music combines elements of jazz with rock, world music, Western classical music, flamenco, and blues
Ali ibn al-Husayn al-Sajjad, also known as Zayn al-Abidin was the great-grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and the fourth Imam in Shia Islam, succeeding his father, Husayn ibn Ali, his uncle, Hasan ibn Ali, and…
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659
Emperor Zhezong of Song, personal name Zhao Xu, was the seventh emperor of the Song dynasty of China. His original personal name was Zhao Yong but he changed it to "Zhao Xu" after his coronation. He reigned from 1085…
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1077
Count of Savoy (died 1383)
Amadeus VI, nicknamed the Green Count was Count of Savoy from 1343 to 1383. He was the eldest son of Aymon, Count of Savoy and Yolande Palaeologina of Montferrat. Though he began his rule under a regency, Amadeus…
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1334
1467
Irish archbishop and historian (died 1656)
James Ussher was the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland between 1625 and 1656. He was a prolific Irish scholar and church leader, who today is most famous for his identification of the…
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1581
Swedish physician and academic (died 1742)
Lars Roberg was a Swedish physician and natural science researcher. He served as a professor of anatomy and medicine at Uppsala University.
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1654
English-Irish archbishop (died 1742)
Hugh Boulter was the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh, the Primate of All Ireland, from 1724 until his death. He also served as the chaplain to George I from 1719.
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1672
Italian composer, violinist, and organist (died 1736)
Giovanni Battista Draghi, usually referred to as Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, was an Italian Baroque composer, violinist, and organist, leading exponent of the Baroque; he is considered one of the greatest Italian…
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1710
German organist and composer (died 1774)
Johann Friedrich Agricola was a German composer, organist, singer, pedagogue, and writer on music. He sometimes wrote under the pseudonym Flavio Anicio Olibrio.
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1720
Prussian minister of education (died 1793)
Karl Abraham Freiherr von Zedlitz und Leipe was a Prussian minister of education who was instrumental in establishing mandatory education in Prussia, which served as a model for the public education system in the United…
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1731
chemist (died 1816)
Louis-Bernard Guyton, Baron de Morveau was a French chemist, politician, and aeronaut. He is credited with producing the first systematic method of chemical nomenclature.
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1737
German philologist and mythologist (died 1863)
Jacob Ludwig Karl Grimm, also known as Ludwig Karl, was a German author, linguist, philologist, jurist, and folklorist. He formulated Grimm's law of linguistics, and was the co-author of the Deutsches Wörterbuch, the…
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1785
French educator, invented Braille (died 1852)
Louis Braille was a French educator and the inventor of a reading and writing system named after him, braille, intended for use by visually impaired people. His system is used worldwide and remains virtually unchanged…
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1809
English linguist and educator (died 1897)
Sir Isaac Pitman was an English publisher and teacher of the English language who developed the most widely used system of shorthand, known now as Pitman shorthand. He first proposed this in Stenographic Soundhand in…
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1813
English admiral (died 1893)
Vice-Admiral Sir George Tryon, was a Royal Navy officer who died when his flagship HMS Victoria collided with HMS Camperdown during manoeuvres off Tripoli, Lebanon.
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1832
American circus performer (died 1883)
Charles Sherwood Stratton, better known by his stage name "General Tom Thumb", was an American with dwarfism who achieved great fame as a performer under circus pioneer P. T. Barnum.
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1838
German archaeologist, architect, and engineer (died 1896)
Carl Humann was a German engineer, architect and archaeologist. He found and excavated the Pergamon Altar.
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1839
Japanese general and politician, 6th Prime Minister of Japan (died 1913)
Prince Katsura Tarō was a Japanese statesman and general who served as prime minister of Japan from 1901 to 1906, from 1908 to 1911, and from 1912 to 1913. He was a genrō, or senior statesman who helped dictate policy…
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1848
American publisher and politician, 47th United States Secretary of the Treasury (died 1946)
Carter Glass was an American newspaper publisher and Democratic politician from Lynchburg, Virginia. He represented Virginia in both houses of Congress and served as the United States secretary of the treasury under…
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1858
Swedish doctor and author (died 1928)
Clara Emilia Smitt was a Swedish medical doctor and writer. Between 1896 and 1902 she ran Saltsjöbadens sanatorium in Saltsjöbaden.
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1864
American baseball player and umpire (died 1960)
Thomas William Corcoran was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a shortstop from 1890 to 1907 for the Pittsburgh Burghers (1890), Philadelphia Athletics (1891), Brooklyn…
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1869
1874
1877
American painter and poet (died 1943)
Marsden Hartley was an American Modernist painter, poet, and essayist. Hartley developed his painting abilities by observing Cubist artists in Paris and Berlin.
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1877
English poet and short story writer (died 1957)
Alfred Edgar Coppard was an English author, noted for his short stories, many of which had rural settings. Largely self-taught, he was championed by Ford Madox Ford and Arnold Bennett, among others, in his lifetime, and…
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1878
Welsh painter and illustrator (died 1961)
Augustus Edwin John was a Welsh painter, draughtsman, and etcher. For a time he was considered the most important artist at work in Britain: Virginia Woolf remarked that by 1908 the era of John Singer Sargent and…
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1878
German sculptor (died 1919)
Wilhelm Lehmbruck was a German sculptor. One of the most important of his generation, he was influenced by realism and expressionism.
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1881
American author and poet (died 1969)
Max Forrester Eastman was an American writer on literature, philosophy, and society, a poet, and a prominent political activist. Moving to New York City for graduate school, Eastman became involved with radical circles…
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1883
Dutch pathologist and academic (died 1961)
Johanna Westerdijk was a Dutch plant pathologist and the first female professor in the Netherlands.
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1883
American painter, critic, and educator (died 1958)
Guy Pène du Bois was a 20th-century American painter, art critic, and educator. Born in the U.S. to a French family, his work depicted the culture and society around him: cafes, theatres, and in the twenties, flappers.
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1884
Indian lawyer and jurist, 2nd Chief Justice of India (died 1963)
Mandakolathur Patanjali Sastri was the second Chief Justice of India, serving in the post from 7 November 1951 to 3 January 1954.
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1889
English-Australian sergeant and politician, 31st Premier of Tasmania (died 1948)
William Edward Brooker was a Labor Party politician. He became the interim Premier of Tasmania on 19 December 1947 while Robert Cosgrove was facing corruption charges. He died on 18 June 1948, shortly after returning…
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1891
American engineer and businessman, co-founded Grumman Aeronautical Engineering Co. (died 1982)
Leroy Randle "Roy" Grumman was an American aeronautical engineer, test pilot, and industrialist. In 1929, he co-founded Grumman Aircraft Engineering Co., later renamed Grumman Aerospace Corporation, and now part of…
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1895
American politician (died 1969)
Everett McKinley Dirksen was an American politician. A Republican, he represented Illinois in the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate. As Senate Minority Leader from 1959 until his death…
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1896
French painter and illustrator (died 1987)
André-Aimé-René Masson was a French artist. He was a leading figure in the Surrealist movement and an influence on Abstract Expressionism. He served in the French Army from 1914 to 1919. During his exile in the United…
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1896
Chinese politician, Vice President of the Republic of China (died 1965)
Chen Cheng, courtesy name Tsi-siou, was a Mainland Chinese and Taiwanese politician, military leader, revolutionary, and well as the leader of Tsotanhui Clique. He is widely regarded as the chief architect of Taiwan's…
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1897
American ornithologist and zoologist (died 1989)
James Bond was an American ornithologist and expert on the birds of the Caribbean, having written the definitive book on the subject: Birds of the West Indies, first published in 1936. He served as a curator of the…
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1900
Trinidadian journalist and theorist (died 1989)
Cyril Lionel Robert James, who sometimes wrote under the pen-name J. R. Johnson, was a Trinidadian historian, journalist, Trotskyist activist, and Marxist writer. His works are influential in various theoretical,…
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1901
American businessman and politician, 6th Director of Central Intelligence (died 1991)
John Alexander McCone was an American businessman and government official who served as Director of Central Intelligence from 1961 to 1965, during the height of the Cold War.
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1902
German carpenter and attempted assassin of Adolf Hitler (died 1945)
Johann Georg Elser was a German carpenter who planned and carried out an elaborate assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler and other high-ranking Nazi leaders on 8 November 1939 at the Bürgerbräukeller in Munich. Elser…
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1903
Samoan ruler (died 2007)
Malietoa Tanumafili II was a Samoan paramount chief and politician who was O le Ao o le Malo of Samoa from its independence in 1962, and the Malietoa titleholder from 1940, until his death in 2007.
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1913
American pianist and composer (died 1989)
Lionel Newman was an American conductor, pianist, and film and television composer. He won the Academy Award for Best Score of a Musical Picture for Hello Dolly! with Lennie Hayton in 1969. He is the brother of Alfred…
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1916
American actor and director (died 1995)
Robert Reese Parrish was an American film editor, director, and former child actor. He won an Academy Award for Best Film Editing for his work on Body and Soul (1947).
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1916
American intelligence officer, 10th Director of Central Intelligence (died 1996)
William Egan Colby was an American intelligence officer who served as Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) from September 1973 to January 1976. During World War II, Colby served with the Office of Strategic Services.…
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1920
British actress (died 1997)
Rosalie Sylvia Crutchley was a British actress. Trained at the Royal Academy of Music, she was perhaps best known for her television performances, but had a long and successful career in theatre and films, making her…
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1920
German shot putter (died 2023)
Marianne Werner was a West German athlete who specialized in throwing events. She competed in the shot put and discus throw at the 1952 and 1956 Olympics and earned two medals in the shot put. Werner won the European…
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1924
Finnish skier and technician (died 2003)
Veikko Johannes Hakulinen was a Finnish cross-country skier, triple champion in both the Olympics and World Championships. He also competed in biathlon, orienteering, ski-orienteering, cross-country running, and rowing…
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1925
Canadian businessman and philanthropist (died 2013)
Paul Guy Desmarais Sr. was a Canadian financier and philanthropist, based in Montreal. With an estimated family net worth of US$4.5 billion, Desmarais was ranked by Forbes as the fourth wealthiest person in Canada, and…
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1927
American actress (died 2024)
Barbara Rush was an American actress of stage, screen, and television. In 1954, she won the Golden Globe Award for most promising female newcomer for her role in the 1953 American science-fiction film It Came from Outer…
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1927
German journalist and politician (died 2015)
Günter Schabowski was a German politician who served as an official of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany, the ruling party during most of the existence of East Germany. After climbing up the party ladder, he became…
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1929
American actor and director (died 1994)
Sorrell Booke was an American actor. He appeared in over 130 film, television, and stage productions, and was best known for his role as "Boss" Hogg, the principal antagonist of the television series The Dukes of…
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1930
1930
Australian judge and politician, 22nd Governor-General of Australia
Sir William Patrick Deane is an Australian barrister and jurist who served as the 22nd governor-general of Australia from 1996 to 2001. He was previously a Justice of the High Court of Australia from 1982 to 1995,…
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1931
1931
Spanish director and screenwriter (died 2023)
Carlos Saura Atarés was a Spanish film director, photographer and writer. With Luis Buñuel and Pedro Almodóvar, he is considered to be among Spain's great filmmakers. He had a long and prolific career that spanned over…
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1932
American Secret Service agent (died 2025)
Clinton J. Hill was a United States Secret Service agent who served under five U.S. presidents, from Dwight D. Eisenhower to Gerald Ford. Hill is best known for his act of bravery on November 22, 1963, when President…
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1932
Slovak politician, 2nd President of Slovakia
Rudolf Schuster is a Slovak politician who served as the second president of Slovakia from 1999 to 2004. He was elected on 29 May 1999 and inaugurated on 15 June. In the presidential elections of April 2004, in which he…
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1934
American boxer (died 2006)
Floyd Patterson was an American professional boxer who competed from 1952 to 1972, and twice reigned as the world heavyweight champion between 1956 and 1962. At the age of 21, he became the youngest boxer in history to…
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1935
American operatic soprano (died 2023)
Grace Melzia Bumbry was an American opera singer, considered one of the leading mezzo-sopranos of her generation, who also ventured to soprano roles. A pioneer among African-American classical singers, she gained…
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1937
American actress, director, producer, and screenwriter
Dyan Cannon is an American actress, filmmaker, and editor. Her accolades include a Saturn Award, a Golden Globe Award, three Academy Award nominations, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She was named Female Star…
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1937
Irish stage, film and television actor
Jim Norton is an Irish stage, film and television character actor, known for his work in the theatre, most notably in Conor McPherson's The Seafarer, and on television as Bishop Brennan in the sitcom Father Ted.
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1938
German academic, linguist and author
Eberhard Wagner is a German regional dialect researcher, poet, playwright, and actor who focuses on local dialects. He is well-known for writing and publishing in the dialect of Upper Franconia.
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1938
Welsh physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate
Brian David Josephson is a British theoretical physicist and emeritus professor at the University of Cambridge. He shared the 1973 Nobel Prize in Physics with Leo Esaki and Ivar Giaever for his discovery of the…
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1940
Chinese novelist, playwright, and critic, Nobel Prize laureate
Gao Xingjian is a Chinese émigré and later French naturalized novelist, playwright, critic, painter, photographer, film director, and translator who in 2000 was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature "for an oeuvre of…
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1940
Italian-Canadian director and screenwriter (died 2005)
George Pan Cosmatos was a Greek-Italian film director and screenwriter. Following early success in his home country with drama films such as Massacre in Rome with Richard Burton, Cosmatos retooled his career towards…
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1941
Indian politician (died 1999)
Kalpnath Rai was an Indian politician. He served as a member of the Rajya Sabha between 1974–80, 1980–86, and 1986–92, as well as being elected on four term occasions to the Lok Sabha from the Ghosi constituency in the…
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1941
Nigerian political scientist, academic, and politician
Akinwande Bolaji Akinyemi is a Nigerian professor of political science who was Nigeria External Affairs Minister from 1985 to late 1987. He is the chairman of the National Think Tank.
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1942
American race car driver and inventor
James Downing is an American former professional race car driver, he is a five-time IMSA Championship winner, owner/driver of Downing/Atlanta Racing, and was principal in the development of the HANS device.
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1942
American historian and author
Doris Helen Kearns Goodwin is an American biographer, historian, former sports journalist, and political commentator. She has written biographies of numerous U.S. presidents. Goodwin's book No Ordinary Time: Franklin…
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1943
1943
Australian rugby league player (died 2025)
Gary Stevens was an Australian rugby league footballer, a hard tackling second-row forward, of the 1960s and 1970s for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and the Australian national representative…
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1944
New Zealand rugby player (died 2020)
Alan Richard Sutherland was a New Zealand rugby union player. A number 8 and lock, Sutherland represented Marlborough at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, from 1968…
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1944
Finnish actor, musician and comedian (died 2022)
Vesa-Matti "Vesku" Loiri was a Finnish actor, musician and comedian, best known for his role as Uuno Turhapuro, whom he portrayed in a total of 20 movies between the years 1973 and 2004.
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1945
American chemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate
Richard Royce Schrock is an American chemist and Nobel laureate recognized for his contributions to the olefin metathesis reaction used in organic chemistry.
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1945
American singer-songwriter (died 2003)
Arthur Lee Conley, also known in later years as Lee Roberts, was an American soul singer, best known for the 1967 hit "Sweet Soul Music".
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1946
English percussionist, lyricist and music theorist
Chris Cutler is an English percussionist, composer, lyricist and music theorist. Best known for his work with English avant-rock group Henry Cow, Cutler was also a member and drummer of other bands, including Art Bears,…
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1947
French sociologist and academic
Marie-Thérèse Letablier, is a French sociologist. Her major sociological works concern work, family and gender issues. She is Research director in the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) and a senior…
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1947
Greek footballer (died 1992)
Konstantinos Davourlis born in Agyia, Patras, popularly nicknamed The Black Prince, was a former Greek footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. A gifted and talented player, he was voted by the Greek sports…
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1948
Malian civil servant and politician, Prime Minister of Mali (died 2021)
Cissé Mariam Kaïdama Sidibé was a Malian politician and the Prime Minister of Mali at the time of the 2012 Malian coup d'état. She was the first female prime minister in the country's history. She was announced to the…
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1948
English footballer and manager
Michael Dennis Mills is an English former footballer who played for Ipswich Town, Southampton and Stoke City. He managed Stoke City, Colchester United and Birmingham City. During his career he achieved Ipswich Town's…
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1949
Congolese footballer
Raymond Bwanga Tshimenu is a former footballer from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Bwanga won the 1973 African Footballer of the Year while with TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi. During his playing days in the early and…
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1949
Bangladesh poet and academic (died 2013)
Khondakar Ashraf Hossain was a leading postmodernist poet, essayist, translator, and editor from Bangladesh. He wrote more than eighteen titles.
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1950
Argentinian footballer
Norberto Osvaldo Alonso, better known as Beto Alonso is a former Argentine football midfielder who spent most of his career at River Plate, where he won 9 titles. He remains one of their most notable players. Alonso was…
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1953
1954
American fashion designer, founded House of Deréon
Celestine Ann "Tina" Beyoncé Knowles is an American businesswoman, fashion designer, author, and philanthropist known for establishing the brands House of Deréon and Miss Tina by Tina Knowles. She is the mother of…
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1954
American jazz saxophonist, songwriter and composer (died 2011)
Thomas William Borton was an American jazz saxophonist, songwriter and composer, and was the founder and CEO of Los Angeles Post Music, Inc.
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1956
Israeli politician
Zehava Galon, is an Israeli politician, the president of the research institute ZULAT for Equality and Human Rights and former leader of Meretz.
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1956
American actress and performance artist
Ann Magnuson is an American actress, performance artist, and nightclub performer. She was described by The New York Times in 1990 as "An endearing theatrical chameleon who has as many characters at her fingertips as…
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1956
English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer
Bernard Sumner is an English musician. He is a founding member of the bands Joy Division, New Order, Electronic, and Bad Lieutenant. Sumner was an early force in several areas, including the post-punk, synth-pop, and…
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1956
American singer-songwriter and guitarist
Patty Loveless is an American country music singer. She began performing in her teenaged years before signing her first recording contract with MCA Records' Nashville division in 1985. While her first few releases were…
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1957
American-Canadian actor
Matthew George Frewer is an American-Canadian actor and comedian. He portrayed the 1980s icon Max Headroom in the 1985 TV film and 1987 television series of the same name.
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1958
English actor (died 2023)
Julian Richard Morley Sands was an English actor. He had his breakout role as George Emerson in A Room with a View (1985) and went on to appear in The Killing Fields (1984); Gothic (1986); Siesta (1987); Warlock (1989);…
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1958
Australian rugby league player
Gavin John Miller is an Australian former rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative forward, he played the majority of his…
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1960
American singer-songwriter and producer
John Michael Stipe is an American singer, songwriter and artist, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the alternative rock band R.E.M.
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1960
American basketball player and coach
Sidney Green is an American former professional basketball player and former coach. He played college basketball for the UNLV Runnin' Rebels and was drafted into the National Basketball Association (NBA) by the Chicago…
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1961
American basketball player and coach
Clifford Eugene Levingston is an American professional basketball coach and former player.
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1961
Scottish actor and author
Graham McTavish is a Scottish actor and author. He is known for his roles as Dwalin in The Hobbit film trilogy, The Saint of Killers in the AMC series Preacher, Dougal MacKenzie and William Buccleigh MacKenzie in the…
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1961
American basketball player and coach
Joseph William Kleine is an American former professional basketball player who played fifteen seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and for the US national team. He won a gold medal as a member of the…
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1962
Canadian comedian, actor, director, and producer
David Scott Foley is a Canadian stand-up comedian, actor, director, producer, and writer. He is known as a co-founder of the comedy group The Kids in the Hall, who have appeared together in a number of television, stage…
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1963
German singer, songwriter, and poet
Till Lindemann is a German singer-songwriter and poet, best known as the lead vocalist and lyricist of the Neue Deutsche Härte band Rammstein. Renowned for his theatrical stage performances, poetic lyrics, and…
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1963
German diver
Martina Proeber is a German diver. She won a silver medal at the 1980 Summer Olympics in the 3 metre springboard event.
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1963
New Zealand squash player
Dame Susan Elizabeth Anne Devoy is a New Zealand former squash player and senior public servant. As a squash player, she was dominant in the late 1980s and early 1990s, winning the World Open on four occasions. She…
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1964
American actress and athlete
Dot-Marie Jones is an American actress and retired athlete who has had multiple roles in television. She attended California State University, Fresno, where she set records for shot put. Jones is also a 15-time world…
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1964
New Zealand rugby league player (died 2003)
Adrian Tremain Shelford was a New Zealand rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s. He played at representative level for New Zealand, and at club level for Wigan and Wakefield Trinity in the…
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1964
French tennis player
Guy Forget is a French tennis administrator and retired professional player. During his career, he helped France win the Davis Cup in both 1991 and 1996. Since retiring as a player, he has served as France's Davis Cup…
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1965
English singer and songwriter
Beth Gibbons is an English singer and songwriter. She is the singer and lyricist for the band Portishead, who have released three albums. She released an album with fellow English musician Rustin Man, Out of Season, in…
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1965
Australian-English dancer, choreographer, and director
Craig Revel Horwood is an Australian-British author, dancer, choreographer, conductor, theatre director, and former drag queen in the United Kingdom. He has twice been nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best…
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1965
English actress and producer
Julia Karin Ormond is an English actress. She rose to prominence by appearing in The Baby of Mâcon (1993), Legends of the Fall (1994), First Knight (1995), Sabrina (1995), Smilla's Sense of Snow (1997), and The Barber…
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1965
American singer-songwriter and guitarist
Deana Kay Carter is an American country music singer-songwriter who broke through in 1996 with the release of her debut album Did I Shave My Legs for This?, which was certified 5× Multi-Platinum in the United States for…
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1966
English boxer and sportscaster
Ivanson Ranny "Johnny" Nelson is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1986 to 2005. He held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) cruiserweight title from 1999 to 2006, and remains the longest reigning…
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1967
American golfer and philanthropist
David Wayne Toms is an American professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour Champions. From 1992 to 2017, Toms was a member of the PGA Tour, where he won 13 events, including one major, the 2001 PGA…
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1967
Australian rugby player
David John Wilson is a former Australian rugby union footballer who played on the openside flank 79 times, and who captained the Wallabies 9 times.
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1967
American basketball player
Corie Kasoun Blount is an American former professional basketball player born in Monrovia, California. He played eleven seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
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1969
Dutch footballer and manager
Cornelis "Kees" Hendricus van Wonderen is a Dutch professional football manager and former player who last coached Schalke 04. During his playing career, he was mostly utilised as a centre back.
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1969
American actor
Joshua Collins Stamberg is an American actor. He was regular cast member in the Lifetime comedy-drama series Drop Dead Diva from 2009 to 2012, and later had recurring roles on Parenthood, The Affair, and WandaVision.
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1970
Australian rugby league player
Shane Walker, is an Australian former rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and early 2000s. Walker played for the St. George Dragons in 1990 and 1992, the Eastern Suburbs Roosters in 1993 and 1994, the…
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1971
Australian rugby league player
Colin Ward is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s.
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1971
1973
German cyclist
Danilo Hondo is a German former professional road bicycle racer. He won the German National Road Race in 2002. He competed in the men's team pursuit at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
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1974
American mixed martial artist and wrestler
Shane Bannister Carwin is an American former mixed martial artist who competed in the Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a former Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion. He is…
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1975
English footballer
Paul Douglas Watson is an English former footballer who played as a full-back.
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1975
1976
Slovak tennis player
Dominik Hrbatý is a Slovak former professional tennis player. Hrbatý reached the semifinals of the 1999 French Open, and achieved a career-high singles ranking of world No. 12 in October 2005. Hrbatý is one of only…
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1978
German footballer
Shergo Biran is a German former professional footballer who played as a forward. He was born in West Berlin.
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1979
French racing driver
Tristan Emmanuel Benoît Gommendy is a French professional racing driver who last competed in the European Le Mans Series with Duqueine Team.
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1979
American actress and comedian
D'Arcy Beth Carden is an American actress and comedian. She is best known for portraying Janet in the NBC sitcom The Good Place (2016–2020), for which she earned a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding…
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1980
Portuguese footballer
Luís Miguel Brito Garcia Monteiro, known simply as Miguel, is a Portuguese former professional footballer who played as a right-back or a winger.
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1980
South African cricketer
Justin Lee Ontong is a former South African cricketer, who played domestic cricket for the Cape Cobras. He has played two Test matches, 26 One Day Internationals and twelve Twenty20 Internationals as an all-rounder.
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1980
1982
Australian rugby league player
Danny Sullivan is an Australian former rugby league footballer. His position of preference was in the Second Row.
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1982
South Korean actress
Kang Hye-jung is a South Korean actress. Making her film debut in arthouse film Nabi (2001), she rose to stardom and critical acclaim in Park Chan-wook's 2003 revenge thriller Oldboy. A rising star early in her career,…
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1982
American basketball player
William Bynum is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is an assistant coach of the Birmingham Squadron of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the University of Arizona and…
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1983
Scottish film, television and theatre actor
Richard Rankin is a Scottish actor. He is best known for the Scottish sketch show Burnistoun, for playing Roger Wakefield MacKenzie in the Starz drama Outlander and for portraying John Rebus in the BBC crime series…
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1983
Spanish footballer
Javier "Javi" Fuego Martínez is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.
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1984
Czech ice hockey player
Jiří Hudler is a Czech former professional ice hockey forward. He played with the Detroit Red Wings, Calgary Flames, Florida Panthers and the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL). After beginning his career…
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1984
British actress
Lenora Isabella Crichlow is an English actress. She became known for her starring roles as Maria "Sugar" Sweet in the Channel 4 comedy-drama series Sugar Rush, Annie Sawyer in the BBC Three supernatural drama series…
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1985
Norwegian handball player
Kari Aalvik Grimsbø is a former Norwegian handball player who last played for Győri ETO KC and the Norwegian national team. She is both an Olympic, European and World Champion. Since her retirement she is the…
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1985
Turkish footballer
Gökhan Gönül is a Turkish former professional footballer who played as a right back.
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1985
American basketball player
Al Ricardo Jefferson is an American former professional basketball player. He was a high school All-American for Prentiss High School in Mississippi before skipping college to enter the 2004 NBA draft, where he was…
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1985
South Korean footballer
Jung Sung-ryong is a South Korean professional footballer who currently plays as a goalkeeper for J3 League club Fukushima United.
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1985
English footballer and coach
Ross Turnbull is an English former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Between 2002 and 2015 he made 148 league appearances, mostly for Middlesbrough, Chelsea, Crewe Alexandra, Doncaster Rovers and…
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1985
French footballer
Younes Kaboul is a French former professional footballer who played as a centre-back for Auxerre, Tottenham Hotspur, Portsmouth, Sunderland and Watford. For France, Kaboul played for the under-21 team and went on to…
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1986
Belarusian decathlete
Andrei Sergeyevich Krauchanka is a Belarusian decathlete. He was the silver medallist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. His personal best score of 8617 points is the Belarusian record for the event. He also holds the…
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1986
English footballer and manager
Russell Kenneth Alexander Martin is a professional football manager and former player who was most recently the head coach of Scottish Premiership club Rangers. Born in England, he represented Scotland at international…
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1986
English footballer
James Philip Milner is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion. A versatile player, Milner has played in multiple positions, including wing, in…
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1986
American actor, comedian, musician, and writer
Lo Mutuc is an American actor, comedian, musician, and writer, known for their role as Dr. Chi Park in the Fox medical drama House (2011–2012), and for providing the voices of the Rubies in the Cartoon Network animated…
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1986
American basketball player
Marissa Coleman is an American former professional basketball player.
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1987
Polish footballer
Przemysław Tytoń is a Polish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Eredivisie club Twente.
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1987
English footballer
Daniel Peter Simpson is an English footballer who plays as a right-back for Stretford Paddock. He started his career at Manchester United in the Premier League, later loaned for Royal Antwerp, Sunderland, Ipswich Town,…
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1987
1987
Greek footballer
Anestis Argyriou is a Greek former professional footballer who played as a right-back.
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1988
German footballer
Maximilian Riedmüller is a German footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for TuS Holzkirchen.
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1988
American baseball player
Kevin Andrew Pillar is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays, San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies, New York Mets, Los…
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1989
American race car driver
Graham Robert Rahal is an American race car driver and small business owner. He currently races in the IndyCar Series with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, a team partially owned by his father Bobby Rahal, the winner of…
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1989
Spanish footballer
Iago Falque Silva is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a forward.
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1990
Cuban baseball player
Raisel Enrique Iglesias is a Cuban professional baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Angels. He signed with the…
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1990
German footballer
Toni Kroos is a German former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of his generation, he was known for his vision and pinpoint precision passing. Kroos played…
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1990
Italian footballer
Alberto Paloschi is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a striker for ChievoVerona.
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1990
American actor
Charles Michael Melton is an American actor. After working as a fashion model, Melton ventured to acting with guest roles on the television series Glee (2014) and American Horror Story: Hotel (2015–2016). His…
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1991
American baseball player
Kristopher Lee Bryant, nicknamed "KB", is an American professional baseball third baseman, outfielder, and designated hitter for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for…
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1992
Dutch footballer
Quincy Anton Promes is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a winger or forward. He is currently imprisoned while appealing convictions for aggravated assault and drug trafficking.
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1992
American basketball player
James Michael Ray McAdoo is an American professional basketball player for the Shimane Susanoo Magic of the B.League in Japan. He played college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels, and twice earned second-team…
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1993
Egyptian footballer
Mahmoud El-Metwalli Mohamed Mansour, commonly known as Mahmoud Metwalli, is an Egyptian-born footballer as a midfielder and centre back.
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1993
American football player
Derrick Lamar Henry Jr. is an American professional football running back for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). Nicknamed "King Henry", he is known for his imposing style of play and larger…
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1994
Canadian ice hockey player
Sarah Nurse is a Canadian professional ice hockey player and alternate captain for the Vancouver Goldeneyes of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) and Canada women's national ice hockey team. Nurse won Olympic…
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1995
English footballer
Adam Harry Webster is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion. Webster is a product of Portsmouth's youth academy and made his first-team debut for…
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1995
Australian gridiron football player
Michael Dickson is an Australian professional American football punter, holder and occasional Placekicker for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas…
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1996
Australian rugby league player
Jackson Hastings is a Great Britain international rugby league footballer who plays as a scrum-half or stand-off for St Helens in the Super League.
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1996
Danish footballer
Marcus Højriis Ingvartsen is a Danish professional footballer who plays as a forward for Major League Soccer club San Diego FC. He is a former Denmark international.
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1996
Italian tennis player
Jasmine Paolini is an Italian professional tennis player. She has been ranked world No. 4 in singles by the WTA, the joint-highest-ranked Italian woman in singles, and No. 3 in doubles.
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1996
1997
Croatian basketball player
Ante Toni Žižić is a Croatian professional basketball player for Beşiktaş Gain of the Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL). He was selected 23rd overall by the Boston Celtics in the 2016 NBA draft. He played in the NBA Finals as…
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1997
American singer-songwriter and actress
Courtney Michaela Ann "Coco" Jones is an American singer-songwriter and actress. She first appeared on the competition series Radio Disney's Next Big Thing (2010–2011), which led to her signing with the company's…
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1998
Lithuanian basketball player
Arnoldas Kulboka is a Lithuanian professional basketball player for Aris of the Greek Basketball League. He was selected by the Charlotte Hornets with the 55th overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft. At 2.06 m, he can play…
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1998
Argentine footballer
Rodrigo Garro is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Corinthians.
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1998
Filipina actress
Hope Elizabeth Soberano is a Filipino and American actress. Known for playing supporting characters in dramas and comedies as a teenager, she has since expanded her repertoire to leading roles in television and film.…
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1998
Palestinian footballer
Wessam Haitham Mohammed Abou Ali is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew. Born in Denmark, he plays for the Palestine national team.
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1999
Iranian-Australian footballer
Daniel Arzani is a professional soccer player who plays as a winger or attacking midfielder for A-League Men club Melbourne City, on loan from Nemzeti Bajnokság I club Ferencváros. Born in Iran, he represents the…
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1999
German footballer
Jan-Niklas Beste is a German professional footballer who plays as a left-back or winger for Bundesliga club SC Freiburg.
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1999
Swiss ice hockey player
Nico Hischier is a Swiss professional ice hockey player who is a centre and captain for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL). Hischier made his professional debut in his native Switzerland in 2015,…
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1999
Australian rugby league player
Jaeman Salmon is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a lock or second-row forward for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the National Rugby League (NRL).
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1999
American basketball player
Collin Darnell Sexton is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Alabama Crimson Tide. In January 2017, Sexton…
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1999
English footballer
Maximillian James Aarons is an English professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Scottish Premiership club Rangers, on loan from Premier League club Bournemouth.
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2000
Argentine footballer
Facundo Colidio is an Argentine footballer who plays as a forward for Argentine Primera División club River Plate.
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2000
Ivorian footballer
Kouakou Odilon Dorgeless Kossounou, better known as Odilon Kossounou, is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Serie A club Atalanta and the Ivory Coast national team.
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2001
English singer and songwriter
Lola Emily Mary Young is an English musician. Born and raised in South London, she attracted attention in 2016 when she won the under-16 category of Open Mic UK and reached the finals of Got What It Takes?. She released…
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2001
Ukrainian footballer
Vladyslav Andriyovych Vanat is a Ukrainian professional footballer who plays as a striker for La Liga club Girona and the Ukraine national team.
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2002
American actor
Jaeden Martell is an American actor. He began his career as a child actor, with roles in the comedy drama St. Vincent (2014) and science fiction film Midnight Special (2016). His performance in St. Vincent earned him a…
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2003
2003
French basketball player
Victor Wembanyama, nicknamed "Wemby" and "the Alien", is a French professional basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected first overall by the Spurs in the…
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2004
American basketball player
Robert Deon Potasi Dillingham is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats. He was a five-star…
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2005
Danish footballer
Emil Winther Højlund is a Danish professional footballer who plays as a forward for 2. Bundesliga club Schalke 04.
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2005
Danish footballer
Oscar Winther Højlund is a Danish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for German Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt.
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2005
British-Spanish actress
Dafne Keen Fernández is a Spanish and British actress. She became known for playing Laura in the X-Men films Logan (2017) and Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), earning nominations at the Critics' Choice Awards, the Saturn…
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2005
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Famous birthdays
Who was born on January 4?
John McLaughlin — English jazz fusion guitarist, founder of the Mahavishnu Orchestra (born 1942)
FeaturedJohn McLaughlin
Birth year1942
Known forA pioneer of jazz fusion, his music combines elements of jazz with rock, world music, Western classical music, flamenco, and blues
Birthdays on this date196 (659 – 2006)
Explore January 4
Jump between the main pages for this date to compare events, people, and the daily quiz.
Also on January 4 in History
2019
A fire in an escape room in Koszalin, Poland, kills five teenagers through carbon monoxide poisoning. Wikipedia →
2018
Hennenman–Kroonstad train crash: A passenger train operated by Shosholoza Meyl collides with a truck on a level crossing at Geneva Station between Hennenman and Kroonstad, Free State, South Africa. Twenty people are killed and 260 injured. Wikipedia →
2013
See all events on January 4
A gunman kills eight people in a house-to-house rampage in Kawit, Cavite, Philippines. Wikipedia →
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