Famous People Born Today

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.

Julia Roberts is one of the most popular Hollywood actresses. She came to limelight in the 1990, when she played the female lead in the movie, Pretty Woman. In 2000, she won the Academy Award for best actress for her role in Erin Brockovich in 2000. She has been named the most beautiful woman in the world, a record five times, by the People magazine.

Award-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix is widely regarded as one of the most talented actors of his generation. In his career of four decades, he has starred in numerous films playing characters that have become memorable. These include movies like Gladiator, Joker, Walk the Line and Her. The acclaimed actor is also a social activist, environmentalist, animal rights activist and producer.

Regarded as one of the most acclaimed musical artists of his generation, Frank Ocean is recognized for his unconventional production techniques and wide vocal range. He is credited with revitalizing and popularizing jazz and funk-influenced R&B. He is also regarded as a representative of alternative R&B. He was named in Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world list.

Jawed Karim is an American Internet entrepreneur and software engineer. Karim is credited with co-founding one of the most popular online video-sharing platforms, YouTube. He is also credited with uploading the first YouTube video named Me at the zoo. During his time working at PayPal, Jawed Karim had designed many of the company's core components, such as its anti-Internet-fraud system.

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.

Brad Douglas Paisley is an American singer-songwriter. One of the most decorated male country music singers of the current generation, Paisley has won multiple American Music Awards, Grammy Awards, Country Music Association Awards, and Academy of Country Music Awards. Brad Paisley is also known for his skills as a guitarist and one particular model of guitar is named after him.

Matt Smith is best known for his award-winning portrayal of the 11th incarnation of The Doctor in the sci-fi series Doctor Who. Fans also loved him as Prince Philip in the Netflix historical series The Crown. Initially a soccer player, he switched to acting after spondylolysis ended his sports career.

Singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, Charlie Daniels, is remembered for his contributions to Southern rock, country, and bluegrass music. He had an extensive career that spanned over half a century and was inducted into the Cheyenne Frontier Days Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame. He had also appeared in a few films.

If the world is successful in its fight against polio, the credit goes to American virologist Jonas Salk who developed a vaccine for the disease. Described as a “miracle worker”, his concerns for humanity were reflected in the fact that he did not claim a patent for the vaccine. He founded the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, based in California.

A Juilliard School alumnus, Finn Wittrock is known for his work on stage, films, and TV shows. As an actor and screenwriter, Finn Wittrock has won many awards, including the National Board of Review Award and Theatre World Award.

Actor Nolan Gould is best known for playing Luke Dunphy in the ABC sitcom Modern Family. He started his acting career as a three-year-old child. After appearing in commercials, he began acting in TV shows and films. He has appeared in a couple of music videos as well. He has a high IQ and is a member of Mensa.

Joan Plowright is a retired actress who won several prestigious awards, such as a Tony Award and two Golden Globe Awards, during her career which spanned more than 70 years. During the 2004 New Year Honours, Plowright was appointed a Dame Commander for her contribution to the entertainment industry. The Plowright Theatre is named after Joan Plowright in her honor.

Elsa Lanchester was an English actress whose career spanned more than 50 years. Apart from her acting skills, Lanchester was also known for her skills as a dancer. After starting her career in the British entertainment industry, Lanchester moved to Hollywood in the 1930s, owing to her success in American films. She was also nominated for an Oscar in 1949.

Francis Bacon was an English philosopher and statesman. He played a major role in the development of the scientific method and was an influential figure through the scientific revolution. He served as attorney general and as lord chancellor of England and was the first recipient of the queen's counsel designation. He has created Baron Verulam in 1618. 

Arthur Evelyn St. John Waugh was an English author, known for his novels, biographies, and travelogues. Hailed as the most brilliant satirical novelist of his day, he wrote mostly satires before WWII. But during the war, his writings took a serious turn; he published Brideshead Revisited in 1945, a book that continues to appear on the best books list till now.

Juliet Hulme, better known as Anne Perry, is the bestselling author of the widely popular William Monk and Thomas Pitt series of novels. She changed her name after a 5-year sentence for killing her friend’s mother at age 15. She has also worked as a flight attendant.

Scottish surgeon Robert Liston worked in an era when anesthesia wasn’t invented. He could complete amputations within minutes, thus saving the lives of many when the speed of the surgery made the difference between life and death. Later, he became the first European surgeon to operate under anesthesia.

Dayanara Torres is a Puerto Rican beauty queen, model, actress, singer, and writer. She came into prominence in 1993 when she was crowned Miss Universe in Mexico. During and after her reign, Dayanara Torres served as an ambassador for UNICEF; she traveled through Latin America and Asia in support of the organization.

Agnes Obel is a Danish musician, singer, and songwriter. She achieved national recognition in 2011 when she won five prizes at the Danish Music Awards that year. Her third studio album Citizen of Glass earned her critical acclaim as well as the IMPALA Album of the Year Award in 2016.