Today's 25 December Famous Birthdays in History

  • 1250 John IV Doukas Laskaris, 4th emperor of the Nicaean Empire (1258-61), born in Nicaea (d. circa 1305)
  • 1461 Christina of Saxony, Queen of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, born in Torgau, Saxony (d. 1521)
  • 1505 Christine of Saxony, German noblewoman and landgravine consort of Hesse by marriage to Philip I, born in Dresden, Germany (d. 1549)
  • 1583 Orlando Gibbons, English composer (O Clap Your Hands), baptized in Oxford, England (d. 1625)
  • 1584 Margarita of Austria, Queen of Spain and Portugal by marriage to King Philip III & II of Spain, born in Graz, Holy Roman Empire (d. 1611)
  • 1601 Jose Ximenez, Spanish composer, born in Zaragoza, Spain (d. 1672)
  • 1624 Angelus Silesius [Johann Scheffler], German mystic (St Seelenlust), born in Breslau, the capital of Silesia (d. 1677)
  • 1628 Noel Coypel, French painter, born in Paris, France (d. 1707)
  • 1646 Harald Vallerius, Swedish composer and teacher (1697 choral book), born in pVallerstad parish, Östergötland, Sweden (d. 1716)
  • 1652 Archibald Pitcairne, Scottish physician and poet, born in Edinburgh, Scotland (d. 1713)
  • 1665 Lady Grizel Baillie (neé Hume), Scottish poet and songwriter, born at Redbraes Castle, Berwickshire, Scotland (d. 1746)
  • 1667 Melusine von der Schulenburg, Duchess of Kendal, German royal mistress to King George I of Great Britain, born in Emden, Germany (d. 1743)
  • 1674 Thomas Halyburton, Scottish "divine", an Anglican clergy of the Church of England, born in Perth, Scotland (d. 1712)
  • 1686 Giovanni Battista Somis, Italian Baroque violinist and composer, born in Turin, Duchy of Savoy (d. 1763)
  • 1698 Jacobus Houbraken, Dutch engraver and illustrator, born in Dordrecht, (d. 1789)
  • 1700 Leopold II of Anhalt-Dessau, German prince of the House of Ascania and Prussian general, born in Dessau (d. 1751)
  • 1711 Jean-Joseph Cassenea de Mondonville, French composer and violinist, born in Narbonne, France (d. 1772)
  • 1716 Johann Jakob Reiske, German scholar and physician, born in Zörbig, Saxony (d. 1774)
  • 1717 George Augustus Eliott, 1st Baron Heathfield, Scottish general (Seven Years' War) and Governor of Gibraltar (1777-90) who commanded the garrison during the Great Siege Gibraltar, born in Wells House, Roxburghshire, Scotland (d. 1790)

Italian Pope (1775-99), born in Cesena, Emilia-Romagna, Papal States

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  • 1721 William Collins, English poet (Ode to Simplicity), born in Chichester England, (d. 1759)
  • 1725 Esteban Salas y Castro, Cuban composer, born in Havana, Cuba (d. 1803)
  • 1728 Johann Adam Hiller, German composer, born in Wendisch-Ossig, Electorate of Saxony, Holy Roman Empire (d. 1804)
  • 1730 Philip Mazzei, Italian physician, philosopher, and friend of Thomas Jefferson, born in Poggio a Caiano, Grand Duchy of Tuscany (d. 1816)
  • 1742 Charlotte von Stein, German poet known for her affair with Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, born in Eisenach, Saxe-Weimar (d. 1827)
  • 1745 Joseph Bologne, French violinist, conductor, composer, and champion fencer, born in Baillif, Guadeloupe, French West Indies (d. 1799)
  • 1750 John Christmas Beckwith, British organist and composer (The First Verse of Every Psalm of David with an Ancient or Modern Chant), born in Norwich, England (d. 1809)
  • 1757 Benjamin Pierce, American politician and governor for New Hampshire (1827-28; 1829-30), born in Chelmsford, Massachusetts (d. 1839)
  • 1763 Claude Chappe, French engineer (optical telegraph), born in Brûlon, France (d. 1805)
  • 1765 Joseph Mazzinghi, English composer, born in London, England (d. 1844)
  • 1771 Dorothy Wordsworth, English poet, diarist and sister of William Wordsworth, born in Cockermouth, Cumberland, England (d. 1855)
  • 1775 Antun Sorkocevic, Ragusan composer and diplomat, born in Dubrovnik, Republic of Ragusa (d. 1841)
  • 1808 Stephen Cleeg Rowan, American Navy Admiral during the Mexican-American War and the Civil War, born near Dublin, Ireland (d. 1890)
  • 1811 Wilhelm Emmanuel von Ketteler, German politician and bishop of Mainz, born in Münster, Westphalia (d. 1877)
  • 1813 Milledge Luke Bonham, American politician, Governor of South Carolina (1862-64) and Confederate general, born near Redbank, South Carolina (d. 1890)
  • 1814 Jan de Liefde II, Dutch vicar (set up For the Welfare of the People organization), born in Amsterdam (d. 1869)
  • 1815 Temistocle Solera, Italian opera composer, born in Ferrara, Austrian Empire (d. 1878)

American nurse and founder of the American Red Cross, born in North Oxford, Massachusetts

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  • 1823 Preston Smith, American Brigadier General (Confederate Army), born in Giles County, Tennessee (d. 1863)
  • 1829 Patrick Gilmore, Irish-born American bandmaster and composer (When Johnny Comes Marching Home), born in Ballygar, Ireland (d. 1892)
  • 1831 Johann Herbeck, Austrian composer and conductor (conducted premiere of Franz Schubert's "Unfinished" Symphony"), born in Vienna, Austria (d. 1877)
  • 1832 Thomas Alfred Smyth, Irish-American Major General (Union Army), born in County Cork, Republic of Ireland (d. 1865)
  • 1837 Cosima Liszt, Austrian wife of composer Richard Wagner (founded Bayreuth Festival together), daughter of Franz Liszt and Marie d'Agoult, born in Bellagio, Lombardy, Austrian Empire (d. 1930)
  • 1845 Salvatore Auteri-Manzocchi, Italian opera composer (Graziella), born in Palermo, Kingdome of the Two Sicilies (d. 1924)
  • 1856 Hans von Bartels, German painter (Three Dutch Fisher Girls), born in Hamburg, Germany (d. 1913)
  • 1856 James "Pud" Galvin, American Baseball HOF pitcher (MLB's first 300-game winner; no-hitters 1880, 84; Buffalo Bisons), born in St. Louis, Missouri (d. 1902)
  • 1859 Raoul Gunsbourg, French composer, impresario and opera director (Opéra de Monte-Carlo, 1892-1951), born in Bucharest, Romania (d. 1955)
  • 1860 Manwel Dimech, Maltese philosopher and social reformer who advocated for Malta to become a republic, born in Valletta, Malta (d. 1921)
  • 1861 Madan Mohan Malaviya, Indian co-founder of Banaras Hindu University, born in Allahabad, British India (d. 1946)
  • 1863 Charles Pathé, French pioneer of film and record industries (Pathé Brothers, 1896), born in Paris, France (d. 1957)
  • 1864 Thomas Cahill, American soccer coach and administrator (first coach US men's national team), born in New York City (d. 1951)
  • 1865 Evangeline Cory Booth, English-American religious leader (Salvation Army general 1904-34), born in London, England (d. 1950)
  • 1867 Alfred Kerr [Kempner], German-British writer, born in Breslau, Silesia (d. 1948)
  • 1868 Eugenie Besserer, American actress (Jazz Singer), born in Watertown, New York (d. 1934)
  • 1870 Helena Rubinstein, Polish-born American cosmetics manufacturer and art collector, born in Kraków, Poland (d. 1965)
  • 1873 Otto Frederick Hunziker, Swiss-American dairy industry pioneer (involved in the American Dairy Science Association), born in Zürich, Switzerland (d. 1959)
  • 1874 Lina Cavalieri, Italian dramatic soprano, and silent film actress, born in Viterbo, Kingdom of Italy (d. 1944)

Danish physician (co-founder of Novo Nordisk), born in Vosegaard, Denmark

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  • 1875 Theodor Innitzer, Austrian cardinal and archbishop Vienna, born in Neugeschrei, Bohemia (d. 1955)
  • 1875 Walter Lees, English cricket fast bowler (5 Tests, 26 wickets), born in Sowerby Bridge, Yorkshire, England (d. 1924)
  • 1876 Adolf Windaus, German chemist and winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1928, born in Berlin, German Empire (d. 1959) [1]

Founder of Pakistan who led the All-India Muslim League (1913-47) until he achieved his dream of Pakistan and became its 1st Governor-General (1947-48), born in Karachi, Bombay Presidency, British India

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Swiss auto racer and co-founder of Chevrolet Motor Car Company, born in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland

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  • 1878 William Starling Burgess, American yacht designer (America's Cup yachts "Enterprise", "Rainbow", "Ranger") and aviation pioneer, born in Boston Massachusetts (d. 1947)
  • 1883 Fran Lhotka, Croatian composer (The Devil in The Village), conductor, and educator, born in Mladá Vožice, Kingdom of Bohemia (d. 1962)
  • 1883 Maurice Utrillo, French painter (Port St Martin, Montmartre), born in Montmartre, Paris, France (d. 1955)
  • 1884 Evelyn Nesbit, American 'Gibson Girl' model, actress and wife of murderer Harry Kendall Thaw, born in Tarentum, Pennsylvania (d. 1967)
  • 1886 Edward "Kid" Ory, American New Orleans style jazz trombonist, and band leader, born in LaPlace, Louisiana (d. 1973)
  • 1887 Conrad Hilton, American hotel mogul (Hilton Hotels, world's 1st international hotel chain), born in san Antonio, New Mexico (d. 1979)
  • 1887 John Davidson, American actor (Dick Tracy vs Crime Inc, Charlie Chan-Chinese Cat), born in New York City (d. 1968)
  • 1890 Robert Ripley, collector of odd facts (Believe it or Not), born in Santa Rosa, California (d. 1949)

Australian cricket spin bowler (37 Tests; 216 wickets @ 24.21; ICC Cricket Hall of Fame), born in Dunedin, New Zealand

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  • 1891 Earle Foxe, American actor (Dance Fools Dance), born in Oxford, Ohio (d. 1973)
  • 1891 Kenneth Anderson, British general (Operation Torch - North Africa), born in Madras, British India (d. 1959)
  • 1892 Rebecca West [Cicely Isabel Fairfield], English author (Meaning of Treason), born in London (d. 1983)
  • 1893 Bert Bertram, Australian actor (How to Steal a Million, Shamus), born in Peterborough, Australia (d. 1991)
  • 1893 Fred Hillebrand, American actor (Martin Kane, Moon Over Manhattan), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 1963)
  • 1898 Theo Swagemakers, Dutch portrait painter (Queen Juliana, Princess Beatrix), born in Tilburg, Netherlands (d. 1994) [1]

American actor (Casablanca - "Here's looking at you, kid"), born in New York City

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  • 1899 Raphael Soyer, Russian-born american artist (Depression Scenes in NYC), born in Borisoglebsk, Tambov (d. 1987)
  • 1900 Gladys Swarthout, American mezzo-soprano (La Gioconda), born in Deepwater, Missouri (d. 1969)
  • 1900 W L "Tich" Cornford, English cricket wicketkeeper (4 Tests, 8 dismissals; Sussex CCC), born in Hurst Green, England (d. 1964)
  • 1901 Alice, English princess and Duchess of Gloucester, aunt of Elizabeth II, born in London, England (d. 2004)
  • 1902 Barton Maclane, American actor (The Quarterback, I Dream of Jeannie), born in Columbia, South Carolina (d. 1969)
  • 1903 Antiochos Evanghelatos, Greek classical composer, born in Lixouri, Cefalonia, Greece (d. 1981)
  • 1903 Corry Lievens [Isabella MJ Adriaens], Flemish actress (Blue Bird), born in Antwerpen, Flanders, Belgium (d. 1968)
  • 1903 J Edward Bromberg, Hungarian actor (The Mark of Zorro, Under 2 Flags), born in Temesvár, Austria-Hungary (d. 1951)
  • 1904 Gerhard Herzberg, German-Canadian physicist (molecular structure-Nobel 1971), born in Hamburg, Germany (d. 1999)
  • 1905 Ann Ronell [Rosenblatt], American songwriter ("Willow Weep for Me", "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf"), and film score composer, born in Omaha, Nebraska (d. 1993)
  • 1906 Clark M. Clifford, American lawyer and presidential advisor (US Secretary of Defense 1968-69), born in Fort Scott, Kansas (d. 1998)
  • 1906 Ernst Ruska, German physicist and winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics 1986, born in Heidelberg, German Empire (d. 1988) [1]
  • 1906 Frank Ferguson, American character actor (My Friend Flicka - "Gus"; Peyton Place - "Eli Carson"), born in Ferndale, California (d. 1978) [note some sources give year as 1899]
  • 1906 Herman Jan Scheltema [NEM Pareau], Dutch jurist and poet, born in Groningen, Netherlands (d. 1981)
  • 1906 Lew Grade, British TV mogul (ATV), movie producer (Boys from Brazil), born in Tokmak, Uyezd, Taurida Governorate, Russian Empire (d. 1998)
  • 1906 William McChesney Martin, American Chairman of Federal Reserve Bank (1951-70), born in St. Louis, Missouri (d. 1998)
  • 1907 Andrew Cruickshank, Scottish actor (Dr Cameron in "Dr. Finlay's Casebook", Body in Library, Murder Most Foul), born in Aberdeen, Scotland (d. 1988)

American singer, bandleader ("Minnie the Moocher"; "The Jumpin' Jive"), writer, radio host, and actor (The Blues Brothers), born in Rochester, New York

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  • 1907 Glenn McCarthy, American businessman and oil tycoon known as the "King of the Wildcatters", born in Beaumont, Texas (d. 1988)
  • 1907 Mike Mazurki, Austrian-American actor and professional wrestler (Some Like It Hot, It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World), born in Tarnopol, Galicia, Austria-Hungary (d. 1990)
  • 1908 Helen Twelvetrees, American actress (State's Attorney, Painted Desert), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 1958)
  • 1908 Jan Seidel, Czech composer, born in Nymburk, Kingdom of Bohemia, Austrian Empire (d. 1998)
  • 1908 Jo-Jo Moore, American baseball left fielder (MLB All Star 1934–38, 40; World Series 1933; NY Giants), born in Gause, Texas (d. 2001)
  • 1908 Quentin Crisp [Denis Charles Pratt], British author, actor, and raconteur (The Naked Civil Servant), born in Sutton, England (d. 1999) [1] [2]
  • 1908 Zora Arkus-Duntov, Belgian-American automotive engineer, known as "the Father of the Corevette", born in Brussels, Belgium (d. 1996)
  • 1909 Louis van Lint, Belgian painter (post-war abstraction), born in Brussels, Belgium (d. 1986)
  • 1910 David Lichine [Lichtenstein], Russian-American dancer and choreographer (Make Mine Music), born in Rostov-on-Don, Russia (d. 1972)
  • 1911 Burne Hogarth, American strip-cartoon artist (Tarzan), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1996)
  • 1911 Louise Bourgeois, French American artist (Femme Maison), born in Paris, France (d. 2010)
  • 1912 Don McRae, New Zealand cricket medium pace bowler (1 Test; Canterbury CA) and soccer goalkeeper (1 cap; Nomads United FC), born in Christchurch, New Zealand (d. 1986)
  • 1912 Herman W. Filarski, Dutch bridge player, journalist and founder of the International Bridge Press Association, born in Amsterdam, Netherlands (d. 1982) [1]
  • 1912 Leighton Noble [Faye Leighton Jepson], American big band singer, bandleader, and TV host, born in Pasadena, California (d. 1994)
  • 1912 Werner Fussan, German composer (Heiteres Aquarium) and educator, born in Plauen, Germany (d. 1986)
  • 1912 Willian Noel Moffet, Irish architect, born in Cork, Ireland (d. 1994)
  • 1913 Henri Nannen, German journalist (Der Stern), born in Emden, Germany (d. 1996)
  • 1913 Jonathan "Candy" Candido, American actor and radio performer (Peter Pan; The Great Mouse Detective), born in New Orleans, Louisiana (d. 1999)
  • 1913 Tony Martin [Alvin Morris], American singer ("It's a Blue World; "To Each His Own"), born in San Francisco, California (d. 2012)
  • 1914 James Fletcher Jr, New Zealand industrialist (Fletcher Construction), born in Dunedin, New Zealand (d. 2007)
  • 1915 Nora Dunfee, American actress (Forrest Gump, Lorenzo's Oil), born in Belmont, Ohio (d. 1994)
  • 1915 Pete Rugolo, American bandleader and arranger (Fugitive), born in San Piero Patti, Sicily, Kingdom of Italy (d. 2011)
  • 1916 Daniel Devoto, Argentine folklorist, musicologist, and poet, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina (d. 2001)

Algerian socialist revolutionary and 1st President of Algeria (1963-65), born in Maghnia, Algeria

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3rd President of Egypt (1970-81, Nobel 1978), born in Monufia, Egypt

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  • 1918 Eddie Safranski, American jazz double bassist and orchestra leader (Jonathan Winters Show), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (d. 1974)
  • 1918 Zaib-un-Nissa Hamidullah, Pakistani writer, journalist, and feminist, born in Calcutta, British India (d. 2000)
  • 1919 Naushad Ali, Indian composer, and Hindi film music director, born in Lucknow, British India (d. 2006)
  • 1919 Noele Gordon, British actress (Meg Richardson in "Crossroads"), born in East Ham, London (d. 1985)
  • 1919 Paul David, French Canadian cardiologist and founder of the Montreal Heart Institute, born in Montreal (d. 1999)
  • 1920 Henry Charnock, English oceanographer, born in Blackburn, England (d. 1997)
  • 1923 Louis Lane, American conductor (Akron, 1959-83; Lake Erie Opera, 1964-72), and educator (Cleveland Institute, 1982-2004), born in Eagle Pass, Texas (d. 2016)
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  • 1924 Rod Serling, American screenwriter and TV host (The Twilight Zone; Night Gallery), born in Syracuse, New York (d. 1975)
  • 1925 Carlos Castaneda, Peruvian-born American author and mystic (Eagle's Gift, Fire From Within), born in Cajamarca (d. 1998)
  • 1925 Christmas Tinto, South African ANC and UDF leader, born in Mqanduli district, Transkei (d. 2005)
  • 1925 Ossi Reichert, German alpine skier (Olympic gold women's giant slalom 1956; silver slalom 1952), born in Gunzesried, Germany (d. 2006)
  • 1926 Enrique Jorrín, Cuban charanga violinist and pop-dance music composer, considered the father of the cha-cha-chá, born in Candelaria, Cuba (d. 1987)
  • 1927 Nellie Fox, American Baseball Hall of Fame infielder (15 x MLB All Star; AL MVP 1959; Chicago White Sox), born in St. Thomas Township, Pennsylvania (d. 1975)
  • 1928 Harry Klein, English jazz saxophonist, born in London (d. 2010)
  • 1928 Irish McCalla, American actress and artist (Sheena Queen of Jungle), born in Pawnee City, Nebraska (d. 2002)
  • 1929 Bill Horton, American doo-wop singer (The Silhouettes - "Get A Job"), born in Hickory, North Carolina (d. 1995)
  • 1929 China Machado, Chinese-born model, 1st non-Caucasian super model, born in Shanghai (d. 2016)
  • 1929 Chris Kenner, American R&B singer-songwriter ("I Like it Like That". "Land of 1000 Dances"), born in Kenner, Louisiana (d. 1976)
  • 1929 Ed Smylie [Robert Smylie], American NASA engineer who led the team that saved the Apollo 13 mission, born in Lincoln County, Mississippi (d. 2025) [1]
  • 1929 Stuart Hall, British radio and television presenter (It's a Knock-out), and convicted sex offender (2013), born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, England
  • 1930 Emmanuel Agassi, Iranian boxer and tennis coach (father of Andre Agassi), born in Salmas, Iran (d. 2021)
  • 1930 Salah Jaheen, Egyptian poet and cartoonist, born in Cairo, Egypt (d. 1986)
  • 1931 Lefty Driesell, American Basketball HOF coach (first to win 100+ games at 4 different NCAA Div I schools: Davidson College, Uni of Maryland, James Madison, Georgia State), born in Norfolk, Virginia (d. 2024)
  • 1931 Uzo Egonu, Nigerian-British visual artist, painter, and print maker, born in Onitsha, Nigeria (d. 1996)
  • 1932 Jose Maria Capricorne, Curacaos graphic designer and painter, born in Curaçao
  • 1932 Mabel King (née Washington) American stage and screen actress and singer (What's Happening!!; The Wiz), born in Charleston, South Carolina (d. 1999)
  • 1932 Peter Swales, British soccer executive (Chairman Manchester City FC 1973-93; vice-president English FA), born in Manchester, England (d. 1996)
  • 1934 Bob Martinez, American politician (Governor of Florida 1987-91), born in Tampa, Florida
  • 1934 Giancarlo Baghetti, Italian auto racer (French GP 1961) and journalist/photographer, born in MIlan, Italy (d. 1995)
  • 1934 John Ashley, American B-movie actor (Suicide Battalion; Straightaway - "Clipper"; Beach Blanket films), pop singer, and film and TV producer (The A-Team), born in Kansas City, Missouri (d. 1997)
  • 1934 McKinley Mitchell, American gospel, blues, and R&B singer ("The Town I Live In"), born in Jackson, Mississippi (d. 1986)
  • 1935 Sadiq al-Mahdi, Sudanese politician and Imam, Prime Minister of Sudan (1966-67, 1986-89), born in Omdurman, Sudan (d. 2020)
  • 1936 Ismail Merchant (né Rahman), Indian film producer (Merchant Ivory Productions - Howard's End; Remains of the Day; A Room with a View), born in Bombay, British, India (2006)
  • 1936 Princess Alexandra [Christabel], The Honourable Lady Ogilvy, British royal family member (cousin of Queen Elizabeth II), born in Belgravia, London, England
  • 1937 Noel Furlong, Irish businessman and poker player (World Series of Poker main event 1999), born in Dublin, Ireland (d. 2021)
  • 1937 O'Kelly Isley, American rock singer (Isley Brothers. 1954-86 - "Shout"; "Twist and Shout"; "It's Your Thing"), born in Cincinnati, Ohio (d. 1986)
  • 1938 David Borden, American jazz and minimalist keyboard player, moog synthesizer player (Mother Mallard's Portable Masterpiece Company), and composer, born in Boston, Massachusetts
  • 1938 Duane Armstrong, American painter (Fields of Grass), born in Fresno, California
  • 1938 Wibo van de Linde, Dutch TV host, director, and screenwriter (Avro), born in Amsterdam, Netherlands (d. 2018)
  • 1939 Bob James, American smooth jazz keyboardist and composer ("Angela"; "Tappen Zee"), born in Marshall, Missouri
  • 1940 Pete Brown, British musician and lyricist (Cream - "I Feel Free"; "White Room"; "Sunshine of Your Love"), born in Ashtead, Surrey, England (d. 2023) [1]
  • 1941 Don Pullen, American jazz pianist and composer, born in Roanoke, Virginia (d. 1995)
  • 1941 Lex Hixon, American Sufi author and religious teacher, born in Pasadena, California
  • 1941 Ronald Perera, American contemporary classical composer (The Yellow Wallpaper), and educator (Smith College, 1972-2002), born in Boston, Massachusetts (d. 2023)
  • 1941 Ronnie Cuber, American jazz and session saxophonist (Eddie Palmieri; Mingus Big Band; J. Geils Band - "Freeze Frame"; SNL Band), born in New York City (d. 2022)
  • 1942 Barry Goldberg, American blues and rock keyboardist (The Rides; The Electric Flag; Bob Dylan), songwriter, and producer, born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2025)
  • 1942 Françoise Dürr, French tennis player (French C'ships 1967; 11 Grand Slam doubles titles; Tour Finals doubles 1979), born in Algiers, French Algeria
  • 1943 Arthur Adams, American session, funk, soul, and blues guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist, born in Medon, Tennessee
  • 1943 Hedley Howarth, New Zealand cricket spin bowler (30 Tests, 86 wickets; Auckland CA), born in Auckland, New Zealand (d. 2008)
  • 1943 Jacqui McShee, English folk-jazz singer (Pentangle), born in Catford, England
  • 1943 Ravish Malhotra, Indian retired air commodore (Indian Air Force) and trained cosmonaut, born in Lahore, British India
  • 1943 Trevor Lucas, Australian folk singer-songwriter, and guitarist (Fairport Convention), born in Bungaree, Victoria (d. 1989)
  • 1943 Wilson Fittipaldi Jr, Brazilian auto racer (38 x F1 GP) and team owner (Fittipaldi F1 team), born in São Paulo, Brazil (d. 2024)
  • 1944 Emory Gordy Jr., American musician and music producer, born in Atlanta, Georgia
  • 1944 Henry Vestine, American guitarist (Canned Heat), born in Takoma Park, Maryland (d. 1997)
  • 1944 Jairzinho, Brazilian soccer winger (81 caps; Botafogo FC 416 games) and manager (Gabon), born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • 1944 Kenny Everett [Maurice James Christopher Cole], British DJ and TV personality (Kenny Everett Show), born in Seaforth, Lancashire, England (d. 1995)
  • 1944 Mani Kaul, Indian director of Hindi films (Duvidha, Uski Roti, Siddeshwari), born in Jodhpur, British India (d. 2011)
  • 1944 Sam Strahan, New Zealand rugby union lock (17 caps; Manawatū), born in Palmerston North, New Zealand (d. 2019)
  • 1945 (David) Noel Redding, British rock bassist (The Jimi Hendrix Experience - "Purple Haze"), born in Folkstone, England (d. 2003)
  • 1945 Gary Sandy, American stage and screen actor (WKRP in Cincinnati - "Andy"), born in Dayton, Ohio
  • 1945 Ken Stabler, American Pro Football HOF quarterback (4 x Pro Bowl; NFL MVP, First-team All-Pro 1974; Super Bowl 1976; Oakland Raiders), born in Foley, Alabama (d. 2015)
  • 1945 Mike Pringle, Scottish liberal democrat politician and member of the Scottish Parliament for Edinburgh South (2003-11), born in Northern Rhodesia [1]
  • 1945 Rick Berman [Richard], American television producer (Star Trek Generations), born in New York
  • 1945 Steve Mancha [Clyde Wilson], American soul singer (100 Proof - "Too Many Cooks (Spoil The Soup)"), born in Walhall, South Carolina (d. 2011)
  • 1946 Gene Lamont, American baseball catcher (Detroit Tigers) and manager (Manager of the Year 1993 Chicago White Sox; Pittsburgh Pirates), born in Rockford, Illinois

American country rock singer-songwriter ("Margaritaville") and restaurant entrepreneur (Margaritaville Cafe), born in Pascagoula, Mississippi [1]

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  • 1946 L V Johnson, American session soul and R&B guitarist and Chicago blues singer-songwriter ("Don't Cha Mess with My Money, My Honey or My Woman"), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1994)
  • 1946 Larry Csonka, American College/Pro Football HOF running back (Super Bowl 1972, 73 [MVP]; First-team All-Pro 1971, 73; 5 × Pro Bowl; Miami Dolphins; Syracuse Uni), born in Stow, Ohio
  • 1948 Alia Al-Hussein [Alia Baha Uddin Toukan], Jordanian Queen consort and third wife of King Hussein of Jordan, born in Cairo, Egypt (d. 1977) [1] [2]
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  • 1948 Merry Clayton, American soul, gospel, and session singer (Ray Charles; Rolling Stones - "Gimme Shelter"; Ringo Starr - "Oh My My"), and documentary subject (20 Feet From Stardom), born in Gert Town, New Orleans, Louisiana
  • 1949 Joe Louis Walker, American electric blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter, born in San Francisco, California (d. 2025) [1]
  • 1949 Mustafa Cengiz, Turkish businessman and sports administrator (president Galatasaray S.K. 2018-21), born in Nizip, Turkey (d. 2021)

1949 Pakistani politician, Prime Minister (1990-93, 1997-99, 2013-17), born in Lahore, Pakistan

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  • 1949 Serhiy Novikov, Russian judoka (Olympic gold heavyweight 1976), born in Moscow, Russia (d. 2021)
  • 1949 Simone [Bittencourt de Oliveira], Brazilian pop-samba singer, born in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

1949 American Academy Award-winning actress (Carrie; Badlands; Coal Miner's Daughter; The Help; Bloodline), born in Quitman, Texas

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  • 1950 Karl Rove, American presidential advisor for George W. Bush, born in Denver, Colorado
  • 1950 Manny Trillo, Venezuelan MLB baseball second baseman. 1973-89 (4 × MLB All-Star; World Series Champion 1980; 3 × Gold Glove; Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago, and 5 other teams ), born in Caripito, Venezuela
  • 1952 CCH Pounder, Guyanese-American actress (ER. The Shield), born in Georgetown, British Guiana
  • 1952 Desireless [Claudie Fritsch-Mentrop], French singer (Voyage, Voyage), born in Paris, France
  • 1954 Amaral, Brazilian soccer defender (40 caps; Guarani, Corinthians, Leones Negros UdG), born in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil (d. 2024)

1954 Scottish vocalist (Eurythmics - "Sweet Dreams"; solo - "Why"), born in Aberdeen, Scotland

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  • 1954 Robin Campbell, British reggae vocalist andguitarist (UB40 - "Red Red Wine"), born in Birmingham, England
  • 1954 Steve Wariner, American country singer ("Small Town Girl"), born in Noblesville, Indiana
  • 1955 Claus Strigel, German filmmaker and director (Obituary for the Automobile, Act of God), born in Munich, West Germany
  • 1956 Mansoor Akhtar, Pakistani cricket batsman (19 Tests, 1 x 100, 3 x 50s; 41 ODIs; UBL, Sind, Karachi), born in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
  • 1957 Chris Kamara, English soccer midfielder (Swindon Town FC, Brentford FC) and commentator (Sky Sports), born in Middlesbrough, England
  • 1957 Jan Rot, Dutch composer (Wrong Nights; St. Matthew's Passion), born in Makassar, Indonesia
  • 1957 Jillie Mack, American actress (Magnum P.I.), and wife of Tom Selleck, born in the USA
  • 1957 Shane MacGowan, British-Irish punk rock musician (Pogues - "Fairytale of New York", "Red Roses For Me"), born in Pembury, Kent, England (d. 2023) [1]
  • 1958 Alannah Myles, Canadian singer-songwriter and actress (Rockinghorse, Black Velvet), born in Toronto, Ontario
  • 1958 Joop Hiele, Dutch soccer goalkeeper (7 caps; Feyenoord 318 games, SVV, FC Dordrecht '90, Go Ahead Eagles), born in Rotterdam, Netherlands

American Baseball HOF outfielder, 1979 -2003 (10 × MLB All-Star; World Series 1989 Oakland A's, 1993 Toronto Blue Jays; AL MVP 1990; MLB stolen bases record 1,406), born in Chicago, Illinois [1]

Photo for the article Today's 25 December Famous Birthdays
  • 1959 Michael P. Anderson, American astronaut & member of the STS-107 Mission (Space Shuttle Columbia disaster), born in Plattsburgh, New York (d. 2003)
  • 1959 Ton Lokhoff, Dutch soccer midfielder (3 caps; PSV, NAC) and manager (NAC Breda, Excelsior, VVV-Venlo), born in Breda, Netherlands
  • 1961 Ghislaine Maxwell, British socialite and convicted sex offender, born in Maisons-Laffitte, France
  • 1961 Ingrid Betancourt, Colombian senator who was held hostage by the FARC for six and a half years, born in Bogotá, Colombia [1] [2]
  • 1964 Gary McAllister, Scottish soccer midfielder (57 caps; Leicester City, Leeds United, Coventry City, Liverpool) and manager ( Coventry City, Leeds United), born in Motherwell, Scotland
  • 1964 Tim Royes, English-American music video director, born in London (d. 2007)
  • 1965 Dmitri Mironov, Russian ice hockey defenseman (Olympic gold 1992; NHL All Star 1997-98; Stanley Cup 1998 Detroit RWs, Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins), born in Moscow, Russia
  • 1966 Javier Frana, Argentine tennis player (French Open mixed doubles 1996 [Patricia Tarabini]; Wimbledon doubles 1991 runner-up; 3 x ATP singles titles, 7 doubles), born in Rafaela, Argentina
  • 1967 Jason Thirsk, American punk rock bassist (Pennywise), born in Hermosa, California (d. 1996)
  • 1968 Helena Christensen, Danish model & photographer (Inferno), born in Copenhagen, Denmark
  • 1969 Bernhard Jr., Prince of Netherlands, born in Nijmegen, Netherlands

1971 English pop singer (No Angel; Eminem's "Stan"), born in London, England

Photo for the article Today's 25 December Famous Birthdays
Photo for the article Today's 25 December Famous Birthdays
  • 1971 Noel Hogan, Irish musician (Cranberries), born in Moyross, Ireland
  • 1971 Terry Vaughn, American CFL receiver (1006 career receptions, 1st in CFL history to reach 1,000; Grey Cup 1998, 2003), born in Sumter, South Carolina
  • 1972 Fantasia [Tonya Manley], American dancer and actress (Pump it Up), born in Detroit, Michigan
  • 1972 Josh Freese, American session and touring rock drummer (Devo; Sting; Nine Inch Nails; Kelly Clarkson; Foo Fighters, 2023-25), born in Orlando, Florida
  • 1973 Alexandre Trudeau, Canadian journalist, born in Ottawa, Canada
  • 1974 Nagma [Nandita Arvind Morarji], Indian actress (Kaadhalan, Dulha Milal Dildaar), born in Mumbai, India
  • 1975 Hideki Okajima, Japanese baseball pitcher (3 × NPB All-Star; MLB All Star 2007; first Japanese-born pitcher to play in World Series, Game 2 2007 Boston Red Sox; Yomiuri Giants), born in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
  • 1975 Marcus Trescothick, English cricket batsman (76 Tests, 14 x 100s, HS 219; 123 ODIs; Somerset CCC), born in Keynsham, England
  • 1975 Pardis Sabeti, Iranian-American biologist and geneticist, born in Tehran, Iran
  • 1975 Rob Mariano, American reality show contestant, born in Boston, Massachusetts
  • 1976 Armin van Buuren, Dutch DJ and producer, born in Leiden, Netherlands
  • 1976 Tuomas Holopainen, Finnish rock keyboardist and songwriter (Nightwish), born in Kitee, Finland
  • 1977 Israel Vázquez, Mexican boxer (WBC, IBF, Lineal Super bantamweight champion 2004-08), born in Mexico City (d. 2024)
  • 1977 Jim Greco, American skateboarder (Bakerboys Distribution, Deathwish Skateboards, Hammers), born in New Haven, Connecticut
  • 1977 Uhm Ji-won, South Korean actress (Hope, The Silenced), born in Daegu, South Korea
  • 1978 Jeremy Strong, American actor (Succession), born in Boston, Massachusetts
  • 1978 Simon Jones, English cricket fast bowler (18 Tests, 59 wickets, BB 6/53; Glamorgan CCC, Worcestershire CCC, Hampshire CCC), born in Swansea, Wales
  • 1980 Laura Sadler, British actress, born in Ascot, United Kingdom (d. 2003)
  • 1980 Locó [Manuel Armindo Morais Cange], Angolan soccer defender (40 caps; Primeiro de Agosto, Petro Atlético, Santos), born in Luanda, Angola
  • 1980 Marcus Trufant, American football cornerback (Pro Bowl 2007 Seattle Seahawks; Jacksonville Jaguars), born in Tacoma, Washington
  • 1981 Griffin Matthews, American actor (The Flight Attendant), and musical theater composer and lyricist (Witness Uganda), and human rights activist, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • 1981 Katie Wright, American actress (Idle Hands, Malibu Shores), born in Kansas City, Missouri
  • 1981 Meena Lee, South Korean golfer (Canadian Open 2005), born in Jeonju, South Korea
  • 1982 Shawn Andrews, American football offensive lineman (Pro Bowl 2006, 07; First-team All-Pro 2006; Philadelphia Eagles), born in Littleton, Massachusetts
  • 1982 Shystie [Chanel Cali], British rapper-songwriter, born in Hackney, London, England
  • 1984 Alastair Cook, English cricket batsman and captain (161 Tests, 33 x 100s, HS 294, 175 catches; Essex CCC), born in Gloucester, England
  • 1984 Georgia Tennant [née Moffett], British actress (Staged, The Bill), born in London
  • 1984 Jessica Origliasso, Australian singer-songwriter and actress (The Veronicas), born in Albany Creek, Queensland, Australia
  • 1984 Lisa Origliasso, Australian singer-songwriter and actress (The Veronicas), born in Albany Creek, Queensland, Australia
  • 1984 Nadiya Hussain, English TV chef and writer (Nadiya's British Food Adventure), born in Luton, England
  • 1985 Perdita Weeks, British actress (Ready Player One, NBC's Magnum P.I.), born in Cardiff, Wales
  • 1987 Demaryius Thomas, American football wide receiver (Super Bowl 2015; 4 × Pro Bowl; Denver Broncos), born in Montrose, Georgia (d. 2021)
  • 1988 Eric Gordon, American basketball guard (NBA 6th Man of the Year, NBA 3-Point Contest champion 2017; Houston Rockets), born in Indianapolis, Indiana

1999 South Sudanese-Australian model (Model of the Year 2019), born in South Sudan

Photo for the article Today's 25 December Famous Birthdays



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