Famous Birthday in January

If you were born in January, you might be famous too!

“A man who won’t die for something is not fit to live.”
Martin Luther King, Jr., born January 15, 1929

Famous Birthdays in January
President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Born January 30, 1882

Explore famous birthdays in January to discover who shares your special day.

Ever heard of Joan of Arc? She was born on January 6, 1412, 600 years ago as of this writing in 2012. A true heroine of the French army during the Hundred Years’ War, Joan of Arc is famous for her historical significance as a mere 19 year old. Yes, you can make a difference as a young person.

For country music fans, Crystal Gayle (with the long hair) was born on

January 9th, Trace Adkins was born on January 13th and Ronny Milsap was born on January 16th. There are not too many country music artists on the Famous Birthdays in January list.

For “non-country music” fans, there are quite a few headliners on the January list. Kenny Loggins (“Footloose” – January 7th), Elvis Presley (January 8th), Pat Benatar (January 10th), Rod Stewart (January 10th), Sade (January 16th), Steve Perry (January 22nd), Alicia Keys (January 25th) and Justin Timberlake (January 31st) to name a few.

J. Edgar Hoover, DeForest Kelley (for Star Trek fans), Eli Manning, J.R.R. Tolkein (Lord of the Rings), Al Capone, January Jones (wonder how her parents came up with that name), George Foreman, Kirstie Alley, Martin Luther King, Jr., and smart guy Stephen Hawking are all on the Famous Birthdays in January list. Take a look and have some fun!

Famous Birthday Boy or Girl
Lived
to Be
Birth and
Death Year
Who is He or She?
What makes them famous?
January 1st – New Year’s Babies!
Grandmaster Flash
1958-still kickin’ Hip-hop musician
J. Edgar Hoover
77
1895-1972 America’s 1st FBI Director
Dede Pfeiffer
1964-still kickin’ Actress & sis to Michelle Pfeiffer
Paul Revere
83
1735-1818 Silversmith & Revolutionary patriot
Betsy Ross
84
1752-1836 Credited for making the 1st US Flag
J.D. Salinger
71
1919-1990 Author; Catcher in the Rye (1951)
Verne Troyer
1969-still kickin’ Actor at 2′ 8″ one of shortest men
January 2nd
Isaac Asimov
72
1920-1992 Famous science fiction author
Jim Bakker
1940-still kickin’ Televangelist
Kate Bosworth
1983-still kickin’ Actress Young Americans
Tia Carrere
1967-still kickin’ Actress Wayne’s World
Gabrielle Carteris
1961-still kickin’ Actress Beverly Hills 90210
Cuba Gooding Jr
1968-still kickin’ Actor Jerry Maguire
Jack Hanna
1947-still kickin’ Zookeeper & TV personality
January 3rd
Cicero
63
106BC-43BC Roman philosopher
Victor Borge
91
1909-2000 Comedian/musician
Dabney Coleman
1932-still kickin’ Actor: 9 to 5 & You’ve Got Mail
Mel Gibson
1956-still kickin’ Actor: Mad Max,Braveheart
Danica McKellar
1975-still kickin’ Actress: The Wonder Years
Victoria Principal
1950-still kickin’ Actress: Dallas
Eli Manning
1981-still kickin’ NFL quarterback New York Giants
J.R.R. Tolkien
81
1892-1973 Author: Lord of the Rings
January 4th Famous Birthdays in January
Louis Braille
43
1809-1852 Inventor of Braille
Dyan Cannon
1937-still kickin’ Actress
Deana Carter
1966-still kickin’ Country music singer
Matt Frewer
1958-still kickin’ Actor: Max Headroom &Watchmen
Patty Loveless
1957-still kickin’ Country music singer
Sir Isaac Newton
84
1643-1727 History’s most influential scientist
January 5th
Bradley Cooper
1975-still kickin’ Actor: The Hangover
Robert Duvall
1931-still kickin’ Actor: Twilight Zone &The Natural
January Jones
1978-still kickin’ Actress: Mad Men
Diane Keaton
1946-still kickin’ Actress: The Family Stone
Ted Lang
1948-still kickin’ Actor: The Love Boat
Zebulon Pike
34
1779-1813 Explorer: Pike’s Peak named after
George Reeves
45
1914-1959 Actor: Superman (1950)
Charlie Rose
1942-still kickin’ TV talk show host: Charlie Rose
Jane Wyman
90
1917-2007 Actress: Falcon Crest(1980s)
January 6th
Joan of Arc
19
1412-1431 Heroine of France & saint
Rowan Atkinson
1955-still kickin’ Actor/Comedian: “Mr. Bean”
Howie Long
1960-still kickin’ Actor & retired pro football player
Nancy Lopez
1957-still kickin’ Champion woman golfer
Carl Sandburg
89
1878-1967 Author & Pulitzer prize recipient
John Smith
51
1580-1631 English explorer to North America
Danny Thomas
79
1912-1991 Actor: The Danny Thomas Show
Loretta Young
87
1913-2000 Actress from 1917 to 1953
January 7th
Liam Aiken
1990-still kickin’ Actor: Series of Unfortunate Events
David Caruso
1956-still kickin’ Actor: NYPD Blue
Nicolas Cage
1964-still kickin’ Actor: Ghost Rider(2012)
Katie Couric
1957-still kickin’ Correspondent for ABC News
Doug E. Doug
1970-still kickin’ Actor: Cosby & Cool Runnings
Kenny Loggins
1948-still kickin’ Singer & songwriter
Jeremy Renner
1971-still kickin’ Actor: The Town (2010)
January 8th
David Bowie
1947-still kickin’ Singer
Michelle Forbes
1965-still kickin’ Actress: The Killing(2012)
Stephen Hawking
1942-still kickin’ Well known scientist
Carolina Herrera
1939-still kickin’ Fashion designer
R. Kelly
1967-still kickin’ “King” of R & B: “I Believe I Can Fly”
Rachel Nichols
1980-still kickin’ Actress: Conan the Barbarian (2011)
Charles Osgood
1933-still kickin’ Commentator: The Osgood Files
Elvis Presley
42
1935-1977 Who hasn’t heard of this guy!
Soupy Sales
83
1926-2009 Actor and comedian
January 9th Famous Birthdays in January
Joan Baez
1941-still kickin’ American folk singer
Lee Van Cleef
64
1925-1989 Recognized Western Actor
Bob Denver
70
1935-2005 Actor: Gilligan’s Island
Nina Dobrev
1989-still kickin’ Actress: The Vampire Diaries (2012)
Crystal Gayle
1951-still kickin’ Country music singer
Judith Krantz
1928-still kickin’ Romance author: Til We Meet Again
Fernando Lamas
67
1915-1982 Actor: Played “latin lover roles”
A.J. McLean
1978-still kickin’ Entertainer: Backstreet Boys
Richard Nixon
81
1913-1994 37th President of the USA
Sean Paul
1973-still kickin’ Jamaican pop artist
January 10th
Pat Benatar
1953-still kickin’ Singer: “Love is a Battlefield”
Ray Bolger
83
1904-1987 Actor: Scarecrow inWizard of Oz
Jim Croce
30
1943-1973 Singer/songwriter
George Foreman
1949-still kickin’ Boxer-Pastor-Olympic gold medalist
Bobby Rahal
1953-still kickin’ Race car driver
Rod Stewart
1945-still kickin’ Singer: One of the best selling artists
January 11th
Mary J. Blige
1971-still kickin’ Singer/songwriter: “My Life” (2011)
Ben Crenshaw
1952-still kickin’ Professional golfer
Naomi Judd
1946-still kickin’ Country music singer
Alexander Hamilton
49
1755-1804 A founding father of the United States
Amanda Peet
1972-still kickin’ Actress: The Whole Nine Yards
January 12th
Amerie
1980-still kickin’ Singer/songwriter: “1 Thing”
Kirstie Alley
1951-still kickin’ Actress: Cheers
Gemma Arterton
1986-still kickin’ Actress: Clash of the Titans
Joe Frazier
67
1944-2011 Heavyweight champion boxer
Rush Limbaugh
1951-still kickin’ Radio talk show host
Jack London
40
1876-1916 Author: Call of the Wild
Oliver Platt
1960-still kickin’ Actor: The Big C
Tex Ritter
69
1905-1974 Country music singer
Howard Stern
1954-still kickin’ Radio personality
January 13th
Trace Adkins
1962-still kickin’ Country music singer
Orlando Bloom
1977-still kickin’ Actor: Pirates of the Caribbean
Patrick Dempsey
1966-still kickin’ Actor: Grey’s Anatomy
Julia Dreyfus
1961-still kickin’ Actress: Seinfeld
Richard Moll
1943-still kickin’ Actor/voice artist: Night Court
Charles Nelson Reilly
76
1931-2007 Actor/comedian: The Match Game
Robert Stack
84
1919-2003 Actor/TV host: Unsolved Mysteries
Rip Taylor
1934-still kickin’ Actor/comedian
January 14th Famous Birthdays in January
Benedict Arnold
60
1741-1801 Revolutionary War General/defector
Jason Bateman
1969-still kickin’ Actor: The Hogan Family(1980s)
Faye Dunaway
1941-still kickin’ Actress: Mommy Dearest
LL Cool J
1968-still kickin’ Rapper: “I Need Love”(1981)
Andy Rooney
92
1919-2011 TV & radio writer: 60 Minutes
Emily Watson
1967-still kickin’ Actress: Appropriate Adult (UK 2011)
Guy Williams
65
1924-1989 Actor: Zorro & Lost in Space
January 15th
Lloyd Bridges
85
1913-1998 Actor: Sea Hunt (1958) &Airplane
Regina King
1971-still kickin’ Actress: Southland
Martin Luther King Jr.
39
1929-1968 Clergyman & Civil rights activist
Chad Lowe
1968-still kickin’ Actor: Life Goes On & 24ER
Aristotle Onassis
69
1906-1975 Shipping magnate
Ronald Van Zant
29
1948-1977 Singer: Lynyrd Skynyrd Band (‘70s)
January 16th
Aaliyah
22
1979-2001 R & B singer: “Try Again”(2000)
Harry Carey
69
1878-1947 Silent film actor
Ethel Merman
76
1908-1984 Actress/singer: I Got Rhythm
Ronny Milsap
1943-still kickin’ Country music singer: “Any Day Now”
Kate Moss
1974-still kickin’ Model: popularized size 0 fashion
Sade
1959-still kickin’ Singer: “Smooth Operator”
Dr. Laura Schlessinger
1947-still kickin’ Talk radio host/family counselor
January 17th
Muhammad Ali
1942-still kickin’ Well known former pro boxer
Jim Carrey
1962-still kickin’ Actor: Mr. Popper’s Penguins (2011)
Al Capone
48
1899-1947 Infamous American gangster
Tom Cruise
1962-still kickin’ Actor: Mission: Impossible (2012)
Zooey Deschanel
1980-still kickin’ Actress/singer: New Girl
Benjamin Franklin
84
1706-1790 A founding father of the U.S.
Steve Harvey
1957-still kickin’ Comedian: The Steve Harvey Show
Susanna Hoffs 1959-still kickin’ Vocalist/guitarist: the Bangles
Ray J 1981-still kickin’ R & B singer: “Last Wish” (2011)
James Earl Jones
1931-still kickin’ Actor: (think Darth Vader)
Andy Kaufman
35
1949-1984 Actor: Taxi (1978-1983)
Michelle Obama
1964-still kickin’ Wife of the 44th president of the USA
Maury Povich
1939-still kickin’ Talk show host: Maury
Kid Rock
1971-still kickin’ Rapper: “Born Free” (2010)
Vidal Sasson
1928-still kickin’ Recognized British hairdresser
Betty White
1922-still kickin’ Actress: The Golden Girls
January 18th
Alison Arngrim
1962-still kickin’ Actress: Little House on the Prairie
Kevin Costner
1955-still kickin’ Actor: Field of Dreams(1989)
Cary Grant
35
1904-1869 Actor: To Catch a Thief(1955)
Oliver Hardy
65
1892-1957 Comic actor: Laurel & Hardy
Danny Kay
74
1913-1987 Actor: The Court Jester(1956)
Jesse Martin
1969-still kickin’ Actor: Law & Order
Jason Segal
1980-still kickin’ Actor: How I Met Your Mother
January 19th Famous Birthdays in January
Desi Arnaz Jr.
1953-still kickin’ Actor & musician: son of Lucille Ball
Michael Crawford
1942-still kickin’ Actor: Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em
Paula Deen
1947-still kickin’ American cooking show host
Drea de Matteo
1972-still kickin’ Actress: Desperate Housewives
Tippi Hedren
1930-still kickin’ Actress: The Birds(1963)
Shawn Johnson
1992-still kickin’ 2008 gold medalist; artistic gymnast
Janis Joplin
27
1943-1970 Singer/songwriter: “Down on Me”
Robert E. Lee
63
1807-1870 A general in the American Civil War
Dolly Parton
1946-still kickin’ Country music singer: “Jolene”
Edgar Allan Poe
40
1809-1849 American author & poet: “The Raven”
Katey Sagal
1954-still kickin’ Actress: Married With Children
Jean Stapleton
1923-still kickin’ Actress: All in the Family(1970s)
Jodie Sweetin
1982-still kickin’ Actress: Full House (80s & 90s)
January 20th
Buzz Aldrin
1930-still kickin’ American astronaut (1969)
George Burns
100
1896-1996 Actor: Oh, God!
James Denton
1963-still kickin’ Actor: Desperate Housewives
Arte Johnson
1929-still kickin’ Comic Actor: Laugh-in(1967-’73)
DeForest Kelley
79
1920-1999 Actor: Star Trek (1966-’69)
Lorenzo Lamas
1958-still kickin’ Actor: Leave it to Lamas
Bill Maher
1956-still kickin’ Host: Real Time With Bill Maher
Patricia Neal
84
1926-2010 Actress: Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
Paul Stanley
1952-still kickin’ Singer/musician: KISS
Slim Whitman
1924-still kickin’ Country music singer: “Rose Marie”
Rainn Wilson
1966-still kickin’ Actor: The Office
Skeet Ulrich
1970-still kickin’ Actor: Jericho & ScreamMiracles
January 21st
Ethan Allen
51
1738-1789 American Revolutionary War hero
Robby Benson
1956-still kickin’ Actor: Ice Castles (1978)
Emma Bunton
1976-still kickin’Singer/panel judge: Dancing on Ice
Gillian Chung
1981-still kickin’ Singer: with the group Twins
Geena Davis
1956-still kickin’ Actress: Commander in Chief (2005)
Mac Davis
1942-still kickin’ Singer: “Stop and Smell the Roses”
Christian Dior
52
1905-1957 French fashion designer
Placido Domingo
1941-still kickin’ Singer/conductor: The Three Tenors
Jill Eikenberry
1947-still kickin’ Actress: L.A. Law (1986-1994
Benny Hill
1924-1992 English actor: The Benny Hill Show
Wolfman Jack
57
1938-1995 American Disc Jockey (60s & 70s)
Stonewall Jackson
39
1824-1863 A general in American Civil War
Izabella Miko
1981-still kickin’ Polish actress: Coyote Ugly (2000)
Jack Nicklaus
1940-still kickin’ American professional golfer
Billy Ocean
1950-still kickin’ British Singer: “Caribbean Queen”
Telly Savalas
72
1922-1994 Actor: Kojak (1970s)
January 22nd Famous Birthdays in January
Olivia d’Abo
1969-still kickin’ English actress: The Wonder Years
George Balanchine
79
1904-1983 Famous 20th century choreographer
Bill Bixby
59
1934-1993 Actor: The Incredible Hulk (70s-80s)
Linda Blair
1959-still kickin’ Actress: The Exorcist(1973)
Sam Cooke
33
1931-1964 Singer: “You Send Me” (1950s & ‘60s)
Guy Fieri
1968-still kickin’ U.S. restaurateur: Food Network
Willa Ford
1981-still kickin’ Singer: “Willa Was Here” (2001)
John Hurt
1940-still kickin’ English actor: A Man for all Seasons
Michael Hutchence
37
1960-1997 Australian singer: INXS (1977-1997)
DJ Jazzy Jeff
1965-still kickin’ Singer: “He’s the King…I’m the DJ”
Diane Lane
1965-still kickin’ Actress: Unfaithful(2002)
Piper Laurie
1932-still kickin’ Actress: Children of a Lesser God
Beverly Mitchell
1981-still kickin’ Actress: 7th Heaven(1997-2006)
Steve Perry
1949-still kickin’ Singer: Journey (1970s & ’80s)
Rasputin
47
1869-1916 “Mystic”; influenced Czar Nicholas II
Ben Taylor
1977-still kickin’ Singer: “Another Run Around the Sun”
January 23rd
Richard Dean Anderson
1950-still kickin’ Actor: MacGyver (1985-1992)
Princess Caroline
1957-still kickin’ Princess of Hanover & of Monaco
John Hancock
56
1737-1793 Patriot of American Revolution
Mariska Hargitay
1964-still kickin’ Actress: Law & Order
Rutger Hauer
1944-still kickin’ Dutch Actor: Batman Begins (2005)
Tito Ortiz
1975-still kickin’ Light heavyweight champion (’00-’03)
Brendan Shanahan
1969-still kickin’ Pro Hockey player/Vice Pres of NHL
Tiffani Thiessen
1974-still kickin’ Actress: Beverly Hills 90210 (’90-’00)
January 24th
Mischa Barton
1986-still kickin’ Actress/model: The O.C.(2003-’06)
Ernest Borgnine
1917-still kickin’ Actor: Marty (’55) &Airwolf (80’s) & ER
John Belushi
33
1949-1982 Actor: The Blues Brothers (1980)
Neil Diamond
1941-still kickin’ Singer: “Song Sung Blue” (1972)
Ed Helms
1974-still kickin’ Actor: The Office & The Hangover
Matthew Lillard
1970-still kickin’ Actor: Scooby-Doo(2002)
Aaron Neville
1941-still kickin’ Singer: “Tell It Like It Is” (1967)
Mary Lou Retton
1968-still kickin’ Olympic Gold Medalist-gymnastics (1984)
Oral Roberts
91
1918-2009 Televangelist & Oral Roberts University
Yakov Smirnoff
1951-still kickin’ Actor: What a Country!(1986-87)
Ray Stevens
1939-still kickin’ Singer: “We the People”
Booboo Stewart
1994-still kickin’ Actor: The Twilight Saga(2010)
Ricky Ullman
1986-still kickin’ Actor: Phil of the Future(2004)
Edith Wharton
75
1862-1937 Author: “The Age of Innocence” (1920)
January 25th
Robert Burns
37
1759-1796 Scottish poet: Auld Lang Syne (1788)
Dean Jones
1931-still kickin’ Actor: The Love Bug(1968)
Etta James
74
1938-2012 Singer: “Tell Mama” (1968)
Alicia Keys
1981-still kickin’ Singer: “Fallin'” (2001) & “Diary” (2004)
Maria Kirilenko
1987-still kickin’ Pro Tennis player (WTA title 2005)
Christine Lakin
1979-still kickin’ Actress: Step by Step(1991-1997)
Dinah Manoff
1958-still kickin’ Actress: State of Grace(2001-2002)
Somerset Maugham
91
1874-1965 Author: Of Human Bondage (1915)
Ana Ortiz
1971-still kickin’ Actress: Ugly Betty(2006-2010)
Virginia Woolf
59
1882-1941 Author: To the Lighthouse (1927)
Leigh Taylor-Young
1945-still kickin’ Actress: Picket Fences(1993-’95)
January 26th
Anita Baker
1958-still kickin’ Singer: “Body and Soul” (1994)
Cameron Bright
1993-still kickin’ Actor: The Twilight Saga
Ellen DeGeneres
1958-still kickin’ Host: The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Scott Glenn
1941-still kickin’ Actor: Sucker Punch(2011)
Dorian Gregory
1971-still kickin’ Actor: Charmed & Soul Train
Wayne Gretzky
1961-still kickin’ Pro hockey player (1979-1999)
Douglas MacArthur
84
1880-1964 American General: Philippine Army
Christopher Massey
1990-still kickin’ Actor: Zoey 101 (2005-2008)
Paul Newman
83
1925-2008 Actor: The Sting (1973)
Maria von Trapp
92
1905-1987 Matriarch of Trapp Family Singers
Eddie Van Halen
1955-still kickin’ Singer/musician: Van Halen
January 27th Famous Birthdays in January
Lewis Carroll
66
1832-1898 Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
James Cromwell
1940-still kickin’ Actor: Babe (1995) &The Artist (2011)
Bridget Fonda
1964-still kickin’ Actress: The Godfather Pt. III (1990)
W. Amadeus Mozart
35
1756-1791 Composer: “Don Giovanni” (1787)
Donna Reed
65
1921-1986 Actress: It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
January 28th
Alan Alda
1936-still kickin’ Actor: M*A*S*H (1972-1983)
Mikhail Baryshnikov
1948-still kickin’ One of the greatest ballet dancers
Nick Carter
1980-still kickin’ Singer: Backstreet Boys
Joey Fatone
1977-still kickin’ Singer: N’Sync & Host ofFamily Feud
Jackson Pollock
44
1912-1956 Painter: known for his “drip painting”
Rick Warren
1954-still kickin’ Author: The Purpose Driven Life
Elijah Wood
1981-still kickin’ Actor: Lord of the Rings(1999-’03)
January 29th
Edward Burns
1968-still kickin’ Actor: Saving Private Ryan (1998)
W.C. Fields
66
1880-1946 Actor: David Copperfield(1935)
John Forsythe
92
1918-2010 Actor: Charlie’s Angels
Sara Gilbert
1975-still kickin’ Actress: The Big Bang Theory
Ann Jillian
1950-still kickin’Actress: It’s a Living (1980s)
Adam Lambert
1982-still kickin’ Singer: “For Your Entertainment” (’09)
Jonny Lang
1981-still kickin’ Singer: Jonny Lang Band
Greg Louganis
1960-still kickin’ ’84 Olympic gold medalist in diving
Tom Selleck
1945-still kickin’ Actor: Magnum PI
Oprah Winfrey
1954-still kickin’ Host: The Oprah Winfrey Show
January 30th
Christian Bale
1974-still kickin’ Actor: Batman Begins(2005)
Brett Butler
1958-still kickin’ Actress: Grace Under Fire (’93-’98)
Dick Cheney
1941-still kickin’ 46th Vice President of the U.S.A.
Phil Collins
1951-still kickin’ Singer: “Going Back” (2010)
Charles S. Dutton
1951-still kickin’ Actor: Rudy & Alien 3 &Roc
Gene Hackman
1930-still kickin’ Actor: Superman (1978)
Josh Kelley
1980-still kickin’ Country singer: “Georgia Clay”
Dick Martin
86
1922-2008 Co-host: Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In
Vanessa Redgrave
1937-still kickin’ English Actress:Mission: Impossible
Franklin D. Roosevelt
63
1882-1945 32nd President of the United States
Wilmer Valderrama
1980-still kickin’ Actor: Awake
Jody Watley
1959-still kickin’ Singer: “Real Love” (1989)
January 31st Last of the Famous Birthdays in January
Eddie Cantor
72
1892-1964 Actor: If You Knew Susie(1920s)
Carol Channing
1921-still kickin’ Actress: Hello Dolly!(Broadway ’64)
Minnie Driver
1970-still kickin’ Actress: Good Will Hunting (1997)
Zane Grey
67
1872-1939 Author: Riders of the Purple Sage
Mario Lanza
38
1921-1959 Actor/singer: The Great Caruso (1951)
Anthony LaPaglia
1959-still kickin’ Actor: Frasier & Without a Trace
Suzanne Pleshette
71
1937-2008 Actress: The Bob Newhart Show
Jackie Robinson
53
1919-1972 First Black MLB player (1947-1956)
Portia de Rossi
1973-still kickin’ Actress: Ally McBeal(1998-2002)
Nolan Ryan
1947-still kickin’ MLB pitcher (1966-1993)
Franz Schubert
31
1797-1828 Composer: “Unfinished Symphony”
Jean Simmons
81
1929-2010 Actress: The Robe &Guys and Dolls
Justin Timberlake
1981-still kickin’ Actor/singer: Shrek the Third (‘07)
Jessica Walter
1941-still kickin’ Actress: Grand Prix &Retired at 35
Kerry Washington
1977-still kickin’ Actress: Ray (’04) &Scandal