Famous People Born In 1955

Leading American technologist, business leader and philanthropist, Bill Gates is the co-founder of the world’s largest software company, Microsoft. His passion for computers made him one of the richest in the world and through his charity foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, he and his ex-wife, Melinda, use this money generously to help people world over live a better life.

British comedian and actor Rowan Atkinson has entertained audience globally with his brilliant performance as the eponymous character in the Mr. Bean series and its film adaptations. Earlier, he established himself as a fine comedy actor with Blackadder and then went on to work in movies like Never Say Never Again, The Witches and Four Weddings and a Funeral.

Actor and film producer, Bruce Willis, began his career on the off-Broadway stage in the 1970s. In his youth, he was widely regarded as an action hero following his portrayal of John McClane in the Die Hard franchise. Currently, he plays character roles. He is also a singer and has released a few albums.

Actor, film director, and producer, Kevin Costner, is a much-decorated Hollywood with two Academy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards to his name. Even though he never dreamed of a career in films as a youngster, fate ultimately led him to Hollywood where he made a successful career. He is also a singer in a country rock band.

Much loved for his distinct gravelly voice, Willem Dafoe is one of the most popular American actors. Thanks to his incredible performance as Norman Osborn in Spider-Man (2002), Willem instilled fear in the hearts of many Spider-Man fans, especially children. Willem, who holds American and Italian citizenship, is a pescatarian and practices ashtanga yoga.

Bill Nye is an American mechanical engineer, television presenter, and science communicator. He is known for hosting the live-action science program Bill Nye the Science Guy. He is credited with inventing a hydraulic resonance suppressor tube, which is used on the Boeing 747 airplanes. He also helped develop MarsDial, a sundial that became part of the Mars Exploration Rover missions.

Eddie Van Halen was an American songwriter and guitarist. The co-founder of the popular rock band Van Halen, Eddie is widely considered one of the greatest guitar players in the history of rock music. He is credited with popularizing the tapping technique, which is now used extensively by guitarists all over the world.

One of the few celebrities who have been open about their aversion towards celebrity culture, Billy Bob Thornton has had quite an impact on the entertainment industry as an actor, director, writer, and musician. He suffers from OCD and a phobia of antique furniture. He hates French antiques and can spot the imitation antiques from a far distance.

Versatile actor, Bill Paxton is recognised for his work in the movies, Apollo 13, Twister and Titanic, as well as the television series, Big Love. Before these, he began his career as a set-dresser, learnt acting under Stella Adler, did various minor roles and finally bagged films like The Terminator and Alien. His work as a director are Frailty and Fish Heads.

Widely known as ten inventor of the world wide web, Tim Berners-Lee made the first communication between an HTTP client and server through the internet in 1989. He is associated with various organizations, such as the W3C and the World Wide Web Foundation, and has received the knighthood, too.

Howie Mandel is a Canadian comedian, actor, screenwriter, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known for hosting popular TV shows, such as Deal or No Deal. In 2008, Comedy Central named him on its 100 greatest stand-up comedians of all-time list. Mandel serves as an inspiration to those suffering from ADHD and OCD as he himself suffers from these conditions.

Jimmy Smits is an American actor who achieved popularity after portraying Victor Sifuentes in the legal drama television series L.A. Law. Also known for his charity work, Smits helped establish the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts, which supports Latinos working in the entertainment, media, and telecommunications industries. He has also donated to organizations, such as the American Red Cross.

One of the longest performing actors in a series, Kelsey Grammer is most noted for his two-decade long portrayal of Dr.Frasier Crane in the global hit series, Cheers, and its spin-off, Fraiser. From performing in Broadway productions of Shakespearean dramas to voice acting for beloved children’s animations, The Simpsons, and Toy Story 2, Grammer has proved his versatility and talent.

One of the most talented Irish film actors of all time, Brendan Gleeson gained international attention after playing Alastor Moody in the Harry Potter movie series. He was ranked 18th in The Irish Times' Ireland's greatest film actors list in 2020. Brendan Gleeson is also credited with inspiring his sons Domhnall and Brian Gleeson to become actors.

Jeff Daniels is an American actor, playwright, and musician. Over the years, Daniels has played an influential role in the American entertainment business. In 1991, Daniels founded a not-for-profit organization called The Purple Rose Theatre Company, which offers an attractive apprenticeship program for youngsters looking for a career in theatre.

Initially an aspiring criminologist, Debra Winger vowed to pursue her dream of acting after a major accident. The 3-time Academy Award-nominated actor soared to fame with films such as An Officer and a Gentleman and Shadowlands. She also delivered an Emmy-nominated role in the TV movie Dawn Anna.

Miguel Ferrer was an American actor who achieved popularity after portraying Bob Morton in the 1987 cyberpunk superhero film RoboCop. His popularity led him to be featured in a couple of music videos. After his death at the age of 61, Peter David named Spider-Man 2099's alter ego after Miguel Ferrer.

Marina Sirtis is a British-American actress best known for portraying Deanna Troi on the popular science fiction TV series Star Trek: The Next Generation. Sirtis played an important role in the success of the series and the subsequent four Star Trek films.

Indra Nooyi is an Indian-American business executive known for her association with PepsiCo where she served as the chief executive officer from 2006 to 2018. Often ranked among the most powerful women, Nooyi was named in Forbes' World's 100 Most Powerful Women list in 2014. In 2017, she was named in the magazine's 19 Most Powerful Women in Business list.

Akira Toriyama is a Japanese character designer and manga artist. The creator of one of the most popular manga series of all time, Dragon Ball, Akira Toriyama is widely considered one of the most influential artists to have changed the history of manga; his creation Dragon Ball is often cited as a source of inspiration by several manga artists.

The current chief White House correspondent for the Fox News Channel, John Roberts has, in his journalistic career, worked for various television and radio channels before joining CTV, CBS News and CNN. The notable works of the veteran award winning journalist and Canadian Broadcast Hall of Famer include coverage of Presidential debates, Hurricane Irene, Iraq invasion and the Israel war.

Famous American journalist, Maria Shriver, is recognised for her long association with NBC. Her documentary series The Alzheimer’s Project earned rave reviews and she later founded the nonprofit organization, 'The Women's Alzheimer's Movement'. As the former First Lady of California– she was married to Arnold Schwarzenegger when he was the governor of California– she involved herself in numerous charity works.

A self-proclaimed workaholic, Laurie Metcalf is an influential personality in the American theatre scene. She has won two Tony Awards in her four decades old career. A three-time Primetime Emmy winner, Metcalf is also known for her work on TV. Also a humanitarian, she has worked with Plan USA, an organization that helps children around the world.

Iman is a Somali fashion model, entrepreneur, and actress. At the peak of her fashion modeling career, Iman served as a muse for influential designers like Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, Gianni Versace, and Yves Saint Laurent. Also known for her philanthropic activities, Iman is involved in several charitable endeavors. She is closely associated with the non-profit organization, Children's Defense Fund.

Tommy Wiseau is an American actor and filmmaker who is best known for the film, The Room, which he wrote, produced, directed and acted in. Though the film was panned by many critics, it has achieved a cult status. Tommy is very secretive about his personal  details and this has led to intense speculation among his fans.

Former American football player and coach, Tony Dungy, currently works as an advisor for the professional football team, The Houston Texans. An evangelical Christian, Dungy has been an integral part of several community service organizations over the years. Also a writer, Dungy claims that his memoir Quiet Strength has touched the lives of many.

Clarence Gilyard is a college professor, actor, and author who has been active in the entertainment industry since the 1980s. He studied acting at California State University and began his career as a theater actor. He eventually moved into TV and films as well. He then took a break from acting to build a teaching career.

Comedian Dana Carvey initially gained fame with his Emmy-winning stint on Saturday Night Live. He has also appeared in films such as Tough Guys and Opportunity Knocks. He was seen as Garth Algar in Wayne’s World and its sequel, and also voiced Dana in Hotel Transylvania 2.

Kate Mulgrew is an American actress known for her contribution across all three major acting mediums. An opponent of capital punishment and abortion, Kate Mulgrew was honored with an award from an anti-abortion feminist group called Feminists for Life. She is also a member of the Alzheimer's Association's National Advisory Committee.

Rosanne Cash is an American singer-songwriter. The daughter of musician Johnny Cash, Rosanne Cash followed in the footsteps of her father. Also a humanitarian, Cash supports many charitable organizations like Children, Incorporated, which supports young adults and children. She has also been a board member of an organization called Center To Prevent Youth Violence, which works towards preventing gun violence.

Jane Kaczmarek is an American actress known for her portrayal of Lois in the popular television sitcom Malcolm in the Middle. A registered Democrat, Jane Kaczmarek is also a renowned voice actress, voicing such characters as Judge Constance Harm in the famous animated sitcom The Simpsons. Along with her ex-husband Bradley Whitford, Jane Kaczmarek was also involved in charity work.

Accomplished American comedian, actress, singer and Broadway star, Whoopi Goldberg is amongst the select few who have won all the four awards—Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony. Moreover, she is also a political activist, author and talk show host. Her notable work include films Ghost, Sister Act and The Color Purple; Broadway show Thoroughly Modern Millie and talk show The View.

Keith Whitley was an American singer whose career was cut short by his sudden death at the age of 34. Before his death, due to alcohol intoxication, Whitley recorded two albums, which spawned 12 chart-busting singles. His third and final studio album was released posthumously.

Michael Rooker is an American actor. A black belt holder in Kyokushin style of karate, Michael Rooker often uses his martial arts skills to play his characters, such as Yondu Udonta in Guardians of the Galaxy, to perfection. He is also known for his performance in popular TV series like The Walking Dead.

Peter Gallagher is an American actor, writer, and musician known for his work across all three major acting mediums. Gallagher has contributed immensely to the success of several TV series, such as The O.C. and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. He was honored with the P.T. Barnum Award in 2005.