Famous People Born In 1941

Singer-songwriter and author, Bob Dylan, is widely regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time. Active in the music industry for almost six decades, he is a major pop culture icon who introduced a range of political, social, and literary influences to pop music. He is a Nobel laureate and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Considered one of the most prominent filmmakers in the history of animated films, Hayao Miyazaki is a Japanese animator and manga artist. A co-founder of Studio Ghibli, Miyazaki has gained worldwide acclaim as a maker of animated films and a masterful storyteller. Miyazaki has served as an inspiration to several world-renowned animators and directors, including James Cameron and Wes Anderson.

Widely regarded as the pioneer of Latin rock and Chicano rock, Ritchie Valens was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter. Since his untimely death at the age of 17, Ritchie Valens has inspired several musicians and bands like Carlos Santana, Los Lonely Boys, and Los Lobos. Valens also inspired Robert Quine, Jimi Hendrix, Keith O'Conner Murphy, and Chris Montez among others.

Swedish-American actress and singer Ann-Margret was initially described as a female version of Elvis Presley due to her vibrant contralto voice. The winner of five Golden Globe Awards, Ann-Margret had a major impact as an actress throughout the 1960s. Her affair with Elvis Presley was depicted in the 2005 miniseries Elvis in which she is portrayed by Rose McGowan.

One half of the popular musical duo Simon & Garfunkel, Paul Simon is a singer-songwriter, musician, and actor. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest guitarists and songwriters of all time. His career, which has spanned more than 60 years, has been so influential that Time named him among the 100 People Who Shaped the World in 2006.

The founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Martha Stewart has found success with several business ventures. She is also the publisher of a magazine called Martha Stewart Living and has written many bestselling books. Although she was convicted of charges pertaining to the ImClone stock trading case, she made a comeback and became chairwoman of her company.

Paul Anka is a Canadian-American actor and singer-songwriter. As a songwriter, he has contributed to the success of popular musicians, such as Tom Jones, Frank Sinatra, and Michael Jackson. He has also contributed to the theme of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Also known for his business ventures, Anka is credited with opening the popular restaurant and club, Jubilation.

Cass Elliot was a popular American singer and actress. As part of the famous folk-rock vocal group The Mamas and the Papas, Cass Elliot played an important role in influencing the counterculture of the 1960s and its music scene. She had a great impact on the American entertainment industry of the 1960s.

The current junior US Senator from Vermont, Bernie Sanders is the longest-serving nonpartisan politician in the history of the United States Congress. Sanders is an ardent advocate of progressive policies and is well-known for his opposition to neoliberalism and economic inequality. He also supports paid parental leave, universal and single-payer healthcare, and labor rights.

Faye Dunaway is an American actress best known for her portrayal of Diana Christensen in the 1976 satirical black comedy-drama film Network, for which she won an Academy Award for Best Actress. Widely regarded as one of the most beautiful and greatest actresses of her generation, Faye Dunaway is also considered a symbol of the New Hollywood.

The son of Lloyd Bridges, Beau Bridges followed in the footsteps of his father to become an actor. An award-winning performer, Beau Bridges was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for contributing immensely to the American TV industry. Also a US Coast Guard veteran, Bridges received the prestigious Lone Sailor Award in 2011.

Nick Nolte, once a model, was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 1992. He is known for his Golden Globe-winning and Academy Award-nominated role in The Prince of Tides. Fans adored him as Kuiil in The Mandalorian and in the films Affliction and Warrior. He has struggled with substance abuse.

Richard Dawkins is a British ethologist, author, and evolutionary biologist. He first achieved popularity after publishing his book, The Selfish Gene, which is credited with popularizing the gene selection theory. The book is also credited with introducing the term meme. In 2006, he established the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science to promote secularism and scientific literacy.

A prominent actor who was active in the entertainment industry for five decades, Robert Forster was known for his versatility. As a college student, he initially planned to study law but eventually changed his mind and ventured into acting. Dedicated to his profession with a passion, he continued working even after being diagnosed with cancer.

Singer, songwriter, musician, and activist Joan Baez has been active in the music world for over six decades. She emerged as a major musical figure in the counterculture era of the 1960s. Her music encompasses various genres like pop, folk-rock, country, and gospel music. She is involved in civil rights, human rights, and environmental activism as well.

Stacy Keach is an American actor best known for playing the popular fictional detective Mike Hammer in several stand-alone television films and television series. Renowned for his soothing voice, Stacy Keach has also gained popularity as a voice actor and narrator. Also known for his contributions to theatre, Stacy Keach was inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame in 2015.

English drummer, Charlie Watts, was best known as a member of the band Rolling Stones. He was associated with the group for almost 60 years. He began his career as a graphic designer for an advertising company and played with bands in his leisure time. He eventually started drumming full time with Rolling Stones.

Mike Love is an American singer-songwriter. He is credited with co-founding the popular rock band, The Beach Boys. Over the years, Love has contributed to the success of the band as one of their main vocalists and lyricists. Although his lyrics reflected the youth culture throughout the 1960s, they started accommodating themes like meditation after he started practicing Transcendental Meditation.

Italian actor Franco Nero became internationally famous with his role in the film Django. He acts in films and TV productions both in Italy and abroad. He has more than 200 leading and supporting roles in movies and TV series to his credit. He is the father of popular screenwriter and director Carlo Gabriel Nero.

Robert Kraft is an American businessman and the chief executive officer and chairman of the popular diversified holding company, The Kraft Group. A sports enthusiast, Kraft owns the Gillette Stadium, NFL's New England Patriots, and MLS' New England Revolution. Also a well-known philanthropist, Robert Kraft has donated millions of dollars to various causes, such as healthcare, education, and youth sports.   

Businessman Richard Benjamin Harrison became famous as a reality TV personality when he started appearing in the History Channel series Pawn Stars as the co-owner of the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop. His already successful business started thriving following the show’s success. He was nominated for the 2012 Time 100 list.

Pete Best is an English musician and drummer. Sometimes referred to as the Fifth Beatle, Best worked with the Beatles during the band's early years but was dismissed from the band in 1962. Pete Best has been depicted in many movies about the Beatles. In the 1979 film, Birth of the Beatles, Best was portrayed by Ryan Michael.

British fashion designer, Dame Vivienne Westwood, is credited for bringing modern punk and new wave fashions into the mainstream. She attended a course on jewelry at the University of Westminster but left before graduating. She worked as a teacher for a while before turning to fashion designing. She eventually opened four boutiques in London.

Stokely Carmichael was a significant part of the American civil rights movement and the worldwide Pan-African movement. He was associated with the Black Panther Party and the All-African People's Revolutionary Party. The Black Power movement leader later adopted the name Kwame Ture and traveled extensively through Africa.

Juliet Mills is a British-American actress who started her acting career as a child actress. The daughter of Mary Hayley Bell and Sir John Mills, Juliet Mills followed in the footsteps of her parents and established herself in the entertainment industry. In 1974, she received an Emmy Award for portraying Samantha Cady in an American television miniseries titled QB VII.

Robert Pine is an American actor best known for playing Sgt. Joseph Getraer in the popular crime drama television series, CHiPs. Apart from acting, Robert Pine also enjoyed riding horses, which he learnt upon his arrival to Hollywood in 1964 as he was often cast in Western movies at that time.

Nora Ephron was an American writer, filmmaker, and journalist. She is known for writing films like Sleepless in Seattle and When Harry Met Sally... The Nora Ephron Prize was created by the Tribeca Film Festival in her memory. Her life and work inspired the 2016 documentary film Everything Is Copy, which was directed by her son Jacob Bernstein.

Graham Chapman was an English comedian, author, actor, and writer. An important member of the popular comedy group Monty Python, Chapman was also a patron of the Dangerous Sports Club. An openly gay comedian, Chapman supported gay rights throughout his life. In September 2012, a blue plaque was unveiled at The Angel pub in North London to commemorate Graham Chapman.

Spanish opera singer and conductor Plácido Domingo has performed in a variety of languages, such as English, Italian, French, Spanish, and German. The winner of nine Grammys and five Latin Grammys, he later performed as part of The Three Tenors, with legends Luciano Pavarotti and José Carreras, releasing bestselling albums.

Peter Coyote is known for his performances in movies such as E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Erin Brockovich, and A Walk to Remember. He became the first Academy Award announcer to appear on camera. He has delivered Emmy-winning narration in the documentary series The Pacific Century and The Roosevelts.