Famous Birthdays on December 16

Catherine of AragonCatherine of Aragon (1485-1536)

Spanish princess, 1st wife of Henry VIII, Queen of England (1509-33), born in Madrid, Spain

  • 1584 John Selden, English jurist and oriental scholar, born in Salvington, Sussex, England (d. 1654)
  • 1614 Eberhard III, Duke of Württemberg (d. 1674)
  • 1622 Cort Adeler, Norwegian admiral ship builder (served Dutch, Venetian and Danish navies), born in Brevik, Norway (d. 1675)
  • 1652 Giovanni Maria Casini, Italian organist, composer, and priest, born in Florence, Grand Duchy of Tuscany (now Italy) (d. 1719)
  • 1669 Arnold Boonen, Dutch portrait painter, born in Dordrecht,, Dutch Republic (d. 1729)

George WhitefieldGeorge Whitefield (1714-1770)

English-born Methodist leader and preacher, born in Gloucester, England

  • 1716 Louis-Jules Mancini-Mazarini, Duc de Nivernais, French diplomat and writer (d. 1798)
  • 1717 Elizabeth Carter, English poet, bluestocking and translator (All the Works of Epictetus Which Are Now Extant), born in Deal, England (d. 1806)
  • 1742 Gebhard Fürst Blücher von Wahlstatt, German Field Marshal (d. 1819)
  • 1748 Ferdinand-Philippe-Joseph Staes, Flemish harpsichordist, organist and composer, baptized in Brussels (d. 1809)

Ludwig van BeethovenLudwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

German composer (5th Symphony; Ode to Joy), born in Bonn, Electorate of Cologne

  • 1775 Francois-Adrien Boieldieu, French opera composer known as 'the French Mozart' (La dame blanche - The White Lady), born in Rouen, France (d. 1834)

Jane AustenJane Austen (1775-1817)

English novelist (Pride and Prejudice), born in Steventon, England

  • 1776 Johann Wilhelm Ritter, German physicist (d. 1810)
  • 1787 Mary Russell Mitford, English writer (d. 1855)
  • 1790 Leopold I, King of Belgium (1831-65), born in Ehrenburg Palace, Coburg, Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, Holy Roman Empire (d. 1865)
  • 1804 Viktor Bunyakovsky, Russian mathematician (d. 1889)
  • 1809 Pieter van Bosse, Dutch politician, Liberal Minister of Finance, born in Amsterdam, Netherlands (d. 1879)
  • 1812 William Grose, American Brevet Major General (Union Army), born in Dayton, Ohio (d. 1900)
  • 1819 Robert Selden Garnett, Brigadier General (Confederate Army), (d. 1861)
  • 1822 Charles Edward Horsley, British organist, conductor and composer, born in London (d. 1876)
  • 1825 Henry Heth, Major General (Confederate Army), (d. 1899)
  • 1825 Robert Prescott Stewart, Irish composer, organist, conductor, and teacher, born in Dublin (d. 1894)
  • 1827 Jean Abraham Oudemans, Dutch geographer and astronomer, born in Amsterdam, Netherlands, (d. 1906)
  • 1828 John Beatty, American banker, statesman, and Brigadier General (Union Army), born in Sandusky, Ohio (d. 1914)
  • 1830 John Frederick Hartranft, American politician, 17th Governor of Pennsylvania (1873-1879), and Brevet Major General (Union Army), born in New Hanover Township, Pennsylvania (d. 1889)
  • 1834 Leon Walras, French economist (border use theory), born in Évreux,, France (d. 1910)
  • 1847 Augusta Holmes, Irish-French pianist and composer, born in Paris, France (d. 1903)
  • 1850 Fred Morley, English cricket fast bowler, (4 Tests, 16 wickets, BB 5/56; Nottinghamshire CCC), born in Sutton-in-Ashfield, England (d. 1884)
  • 1851 Theodoor de Meester, Dutch premier (1905-08), born in Harderwijk, Netherlands (d. 1919)
  • 1857 E. E. [Edward Emerson] Barnard, American astronomer (Jupiter's 5th satellite), born in Nashville, Tennessee (d. 1923)
  • 1861 Antonio de La Gandara, French painter (d. 1917)
  • 1862 Eugene Demolder, Belgian writer (Sous la robe), born in Sint-Jans-Molenbeek,, Belgium (d. 1919)
  • 1863 George Santayana, Spanish-American philosopher, poet and humanist (Last Puritan), born in Madrid, Spain (d. 1952)
  • 1863 Ralph Adams Cram, American gothic architect (Cathedral of St Joan NYC), born in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire (d. 1942)
  • 1865 Victor Rousseau, Belgian sculptor (d. 1954)
  • 1867 Amy Carmichael, missionary in Dohnavur, India (d. 1951)
  • 1869 Albert Pollard, British historian (Dictionary of Natural Biography), born in Ryde, England (d. 1948)
  • 1869 Alfred Hill, Australian-New Zealand composer and conductor (Hinemoa), born in Melbourne, Australia (d. 1960)
  • 1869 Hristo Tatarchev, Bulgarian revolutionary (d. 1952)
  • 1872 Anton Ivanovich Denikin, Russian general (d. 1947)
  • 1879 William Duncan, Scottish actor (Hopalong Rides Again, Thunder Trail), born in Dundee, Tayside, Scotland (d. 1961)

Jack HobbsJack Hobbs (1882-1963)

English cricket batsman (61 Tests, 5,410 runs @ 56.94, 15 x 100s; leading 1st-class run-scorer [61,760] and century-maker [199]; Surry), born in Cambridge, England

  • 1882 Walther Meissner, German physicist (Meissner effect), born in Berlin, German Empire (d. 1974)
  • 1882 Zoltán Kodály, Hungarian composer and ethno-musicologist, (Psalmus Hungaricus; Hary Janos), born in Kecskemét, Hungary (d. 1967)
  • 1883 Max Linder [Gabriel-Maximilien Leuvielle], French actor, comic and director (Seven Years Bad Luck: Max Prend un Bain), born in Saint-Loubès, Gironde, France (d. 1925)
  • 1888 Alexander I, king of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (1921–29) and of Yugoslavia (1929–34), born in Cetinje, Montenegro (d. 1934)
  • 1888 Alphonse Juin, French general and Marshal, born in Bône, French Algeria (d. 1967)
  • 1892 Cameron Prud'Homme, American actor (The Rainmaker), born in Auburn, New York (d. 1967)
  • 1893 Vladimir Golschmann, French-American conductor (St. Louis Symphony, 1931-57), born in Paris, France (d. 1972)
  • 1895 Lidj Jasu [Iyasu], Emperor of Ethiopia (1913-16), born in Dessie, Ethiopia (d. 1935)
  • 1897 Jacobus Petrus Duminy, South African cricket batsman (3 Tests; Western Province, Transvaal, Oxford University CC) and academic (principal & vice-chancellor University of Cape Town), born in Cape Town, South Africa (d. 1980)
  • 1897 Paul Neuhuys, Belgian playwright and poet (Le Canari et le Cerise), born in Antwerp, Belgium (d. 1984)
  • 1899 Harold Walter Bailey, British philologist (Khotanese, Sanskrit scholar who spoke 50 languages), born in Devizes, England (d. 1996

Noël CowardNoël Coward (1899-1973)

English playwright (Hay Fever, Private Lives), director (In Which We Serve-1942 Academy Award), actor and singer, born in London

  • 1900 V. S. Pritchett, British literary critic and writer (Myth Makers), born in Suffolk (d. 1996)

Margaret MeadMargaret Mead (1901-1978)

American anthropologist (Coming of Age in Samoa, Thoughts & Female), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  • 1903 Hardie Albright, American actor (Silver Streak, Scarlet Letter), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (d. 1975)
  • 1903 Rafael Alberti, Spanish poet (El hombre deshabitado, one of the Generation of 27), born in El Puerto de Santa María, Spain (d. 1999) [1]
  • 1904 Edward Morris Bernstein, American economist (US negotiator at Bretton Woods conference and establishment of IMF), born in New Jersey (d. 1996)
  • 1905 Piet Hein, Dutch poet and inventor (d. 1996)
  • 1906 John Morrison, 1st Baron Margadale, English politician and landowner, last non-royal to be raised to the peerage in UK (1965) (d. 1996)
  • 1907 Barbara Kent, Canadian actress (Lonesome, Flesh and the Devil), born in Gadsby, Alberta, Canada (d. 2011)
  • 1907 Ray C. Bliss, American Republican party figure (Chairman Republican National Committee 1965-69), born in Akron, Ohio (d. 1981)
  • 1907 Syd Curnow, South African cricket batsman (7 Tests, HS 47; Transvaal), born in Benoni, South Africa (d. 1986)
  • 1908 Remedios Varo, Spanish-Mexican surrealist artist (Eyes on the table, Useless Science or the Alchemist), born in Anglès, Spain (d. 1963) [1]
  • 1909 Henricus Verbunt, Dutch civil servant and resistance fighter, born in Tilburg, Netherlands (d. 1944)
  • 1909 Lall Singh, Indian cricketer (scored 15 & 29 in India's 1st Test match) (d. 1985)
  • 1910 Freddie Brown, English cricketer ("Lettuces! Hearts as big as "), born in Lima, Peru (d. 1991)
  • 1910 Robert Noehren, American organist and educator, born in Buffalo, New York (d. 2002)
  • 1910 Stanojlo Rajičić, Serbian composer, educator, and musicologist, born in Belgrade, Kingdom of Serbia (d. 2000)
  • 1915 Georgy Sviridov, Soviet Russian neo-romantic composer (The Blizzard; Time; Forward!), born in Fatezh, Kursk Governorate, Russian Empire (d. 1998)
  • 1915 Melvin "Turk" Murphy, American Dixieland jazz trombonist, born in Palermo, California (d. 1987)
  • 1916 Theo Bitter, Dutch painter and set designer (d. 1994)
  • 1916 Udom Patpongsiri, Thai property developer (Father of the Thai sex industry), (d. 1996)

Arthur C. ClarkeArthur C. Clarke (1917-2008)

English sci-fi author (2001: A Space Odyssey, Childhood's End), born in Minehead, England

  • 1917 Nabi Bux Khan Baloch, Pakistani Sindhi scholar (compiled first Sindhi-English dictionary), born in Jaffer Khan Laghari, Sinjhoro, British India (d. 2011) [1]
  • 1918 Henry Clarke, American fashion photographer (Vogue), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 1996)
  • 1918 Pierre Delanoë [Leroyer], French songwriter and lyricist, born in Paris (d. 2006)
  • 1919 Manke Nelis [Cornelis Pieters], Dutch folk-pop vocalist (Small Yodel Boy), and double bassist, born in Amsterdam, Netherlands (d. 1993)
  • 1922 Anthony Simmons, British writer and film director (The Optimists of Nine Elms), born in London (d. 2016)
  • 1922 Pierre Chany, French cycling journalist (49 x Tour de France; L'Équipe), born in Langeac, Haute-Loire, France (d. 1996)
  • 1922 Seymour "Cy" Leslie, American music (Pickwick Records) and video (MGM/UA Home Entertainment) executive, born in Israel (d. 2008)
  • 1923 (Silvio) "Tip" Marugg, Antillian poet and writer (Weekend Pilgrimage), born in Willemstad, Curaçao (d. 2006)
  • 1923 Werner Haentjes, German conductor and composer of operas and film scores, born in Bocholt, Germany (d. 2001)
  • 1926 Alfred Koerppen, German organist, composer, and educator (Hannover Hochschule für Musik und Theater, 1948-91), born in Wiesbaden, Germany (d. 2022)
  • 1926 James McCracken, American operatic tenor (Otello), born in Gary, Indiana (d. 1988)
  • 1926 Josef Hadar, Israeli violinist and composer (Evening of Roses), born in Tel Aviv, Mandatory Palestine (now Israel) (d. 2006)
  • 1927 G Randall P D Garrett, American sci-fi writer (Takeoff (too)!)
  • 1927 Peter [Malcolm] Dickinson, Zambia, sci-fi author (Heartsease)
  • 1928 Peter Nailor, civil servant/historian
  • 1928 Philip K Dick, American sci-fi author (Hugo-1963; Blade Runner), born in Chicago, Illinois
  • 1929 Doug Ford, Australian cricket wicket-keeper (successful NSW of 50's), born in Maryville, New South Wales
  • 1929 Ian Board, British barkeeper (the Colony Room), born in Devon (d. 1994)
  • 1929 Nicholas Courtney, British actor (Doctor Who, Incendiary), born in Cairo, Egypt (d. 2011)
  • 1930 Bill Young, American politician (Congress, 1993-2013), born in Harmarville, Pennsylvania (d. 2013)
  • 1931 Karl Denver [Angus McKenzie], Scottish pop singer ("Never Say Goodbye"; "Wimoweh"), born in Springburn, Glasgow, Scotland
  • 1931 Kenneth Gilbert, Canadian harpsichordist, organist, musicologist, and educator, born in Montreal, Quebec (d. 2020)
  • 1931 Shelby Singleton, American record label owner and producer (Smash Records, Mercury Records), born in Waskom, Texas (d. 2009)

Tom BrookshierTom Brookshier (1931-2010)

American football defensive end (Philadelphia Eagles) and broadcaster (CBS), born in Roswell, New Mexico

  • 1932 Quentin Blake, English illustrator, British Children's Laureate (1999-2001), born in Sidcup, England
  • 1932 Rodion Konstantinovich Schedrin, Soviet-Russian pianist, organist, and composer (The Little Hump-backed Horse), born in Moscow, Russia
  • 1933 Johnny "Hammond" Smith, American jazz and bop organist (Wild Horses Rock Steady), born in Louisville, Kentucky (d. 1997)
  • 1934 John L. Rotz, American thoroughbred jockey (Preakness Stakes 1962; Belmont Stakes 1970; Racing Hall of Fame 1983), born in Niantic, Illinois (d. 2021)
  • 1935 Howard Quilling, American classical composer (From Quiet Beginnings), and educator, born in Enid, Oklahoma (d. 2016)
  • 1936 Maurice Setters, English soccer wing half (West Bromwich Albion, Manchester United, Stoke City) and manager (Doncaster Rovers), born in Honiton, England (d. 2020)
  • 1936 Morris Dees, founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center
  • 1937 Bobby Porcelli, American Latin and Afro-Cuban jazz saxophone and flute player, born in New York City
  • 1937 Edward Ruscha, American artist (Pop Art), born in Omaha, Nebraska
  • 1937 Jim Glaser, American singer (Glaser Bros-Getting to Me Again), born in Spalding, Nebraska
  • 1937 Joe Farrell, American jazz saxophonist, born in Chicago Heights, Illinois, (d. 1986)
  • 1937 Joyce Bulifant, American actress (The Mary Tyler Moore Show - "Marie Slaughter"), born in Newport News, Virginia
  • 1938 Frank Deford, American sportswriter

Jimmie Lee JacksonJimmie Lee Jackson (1938-1965)

American civil rights protester and church deacon, shot and killed by an Alabama State Trooper in 1965, born in Marion, Alabama

  • 1938 Liv Ullmann, Norwegian actress and director (The Emigrants, Persona), born in Tokyo, Japan
  • 1940 Dimitri van Toren, Dutch singer-songwriter, born in Breda, Netherlands (d. 2015)
  • 1941 Lesley Stahl, newscaster/correspondent (CBS)
  • 1941 Vittorio Mezzogiorno, Italian actor (Cafe Express, Octopus), born in Cercola, Italy (d. 1994)
  • 1942 Donald Carcieri, American politician, governor of Rhode Island
  • 1943 Steven Bochco, American TV producer and co-creator of Hill Street Blues, LA Law and NYPD Blue, born in New York City (d. 2018)
  • 1944 John Abercrombie, American jazz guitarist, born in Portchester, New York (d. 2017)
  • 1944 Yosemite Sam, Warner Bros. cartoon character created by Friz Freleng, (Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series), first debuts in "Stage Door Cartoon"
  • 1945 Bobby George, English darts player (BDO World C'ship 1980, 84 runner-up), born in Manor Park, Essex, England
  • 1945 Patti Deutsch, American actress and Match Game panelist
  • 1945 Tony Hicks, British rock guitarist (The Hollies), born in Nelson, England
  • 1945 Yukio Hattori, Japanese Iron Chef commentator
  • 1946 Adriaan van Dis, Dutch author (Promised Country), born in Bergen aan Zee, Netherlands

Benny AnderssonBenny Andersson (76 years old)

1946 Swedish pop composer and musician (ABBA), born in Stockholm, Sweden

  • 1946 Chris Ellison [Ironside], British actor (The Bill - "Frank Burnside"), born in St Pancras, London, England
  • 1946 Eduard Krieger, Austrian soccer defensive midfielder (25 caps; Austria Wien, Club Brugge K.V., LASK Linz), born in Vienna, Austria (d. 2019)
  • 1946 Fred Borgman, Dutch 2nd chamber member (CDA), born in Aalsmeer, Netherlands (d. 1996)
  • 1946 Goolam Rajah, South African cricket administrator (manager RSA national team 1991-2011), born in Johannesburg, South Africa (d. 2021)
  • 1946 Terence Knox, American actor (Peter-St Elsewhere), born in Richland, Washington
  • 1946 Trevor Pinnock, English conductor and harpsichordist (The English Concert), born in Canterbury, England
  • 1947 Ben Cross, English actor (Chariots of Fire, Star Trek), born in London, England (d. 2020)
  • 1947 Vincent Matthews, American 400m dash (Olympic gold 1972)
  • 1948 Christopher Biggins, English actor
  • 1949 Billy Gibbons, American blues-rock guitarist (Moving Sidewalks; ZZ Top - "Cheap Sunglasses"; "Legs"), born in Houston, Texas
  • 1949 Sugar Blue [Jimmie Whiting], American touring and session blues harmonica player (Louisiana Red; Rolling Stones), born in Harlem, New York City
  • 1950 Claudia Cohen, American gossip columnist (NY Post - "Page Six") and socialite, born in Englewood, New Jersey (d. 2007)
  • 1950 Ieremia Tabai, I-Kiribati politician (President of Kiribati, 1979-91), born in Nonouti, Kiribati (Gilbert Islands)
  • 1950 Roy Schuiten, Dutch cyclist, born in Zandvoort, Netherlands (d. 2006)
  • 1951 Robben Ford, American jazz, rock, and blues guitarist (L.A. Express; Yellowjackets), born in Woodlake, California
  • 1952 Francesco Graziani, Italian footballer
  • 1952 Joel Garner, Christ Church, Barbados, West Indian cricketer (two-metre West Indian pace bowler 1977-87)
  • 1953 Filip Bolluyt, Dutch actor (Daybreak)
  • 1954 Joslyn Y Hoyte-Smith, Barbados, 4X400m hurdler (Olympic bronze 1980)
  • 1955 Carol M Browner, US Administrator (EPA)
  • 1955 Graham Stevenson, English cricket medium pace bowler (2 Tests, 5 wickets; 4 ODIs; Yorkshire CCC, Northamptonshire CCC), born in Ackworth, England
  • 1955 Prince Lorenz of Belgium, Archduke of Austria-Este
  • 1955 Xander Berkeley, American actor
  • 1956 Mike Gregory, English darts player (BDO World C'ship 1992 runner-up), born in Bath, England (d. 2022)
  • 1956 Tommy Burns, Scottish soccer midfielder (8 caps; Celtic, Kilmarnock) and manager (Scotland, Celtic, Kilmarnock, Reading), born in Glasgow, Scotland (d. 2008)
  • 1958 Bart Oates, NFL center (NY Giants, SF 49ers)
  • 1959 Alison La Placa, NJ, actress (Duet, Catherine-John Larroquette Show)
  • 1959 Stephen Irvine, Scottish rock drummer (Lloyd Cole & The Commotions), born in Scotland
  • 1960 Pat Van Den Hauwe, Belgian footballer
  • 1961 Bill Hicks, American stand-up comedian and social critic, born in Valdosta, Georgia (d. 1994)
  • 1961 LaChanze [Rhonda LaChanze Sapp], American Broadway actress (The Color Purple), born in St. Augustine, Florida
  • 1962 Jon Tenney, actor (Brooklyn South)
  • 1962 Maruschka Detmers, Schoonebeek Holland, actress (Devil in the Flesh)
  • 1962 Melanie Smith, actress (Emily-As the World Turns), born in Scranton, Pennsylvania
  • 1962 William "The Refrigerator" Perry, NFL defensive lineman (Chicago Bears), born in Aiken, South Carolina
  • 1963 Benjamin Bratt, California, actor (Det Reynaldo Curtis-Law & Order)
  • 1963 Cathy Johnston, American golfer, (du Maurier Classic 1990), born in High Point, North Carolina
  • 1963 James Mangold, American filmmaker (Girl, Interrupted; Kate & Leopold; Walk the Line; Logan), born in New York City
  • 1963 Jeff Carson, American country singer, born in Tulsa, Oklahoma
  • 1964 Billy Ripken, American baseball 2nd baseman (Baltimore Orioles, Texas Rangers) and broadcaster (XM Satellite Radio, MLB Network), born in Havre de Grace, Maryland
  • 1964 Gail Harris, Dewsbury England, actress (Virtual Desire)
  • 1964 Heike Drechsler, Gera German DR, sprinter (1988 world record)
  • 1965 Chris Jones, outfielder (NY Mets), born in Utica, New York
  • 1965 J.B. Smoove [Jerry Brooks], American actor, comedian and writer (SNL, 2003-06; Curb Your Enthusiasm), born in Plymouth, North Carolina
  • 1965 Melanie Sloan, American attorney
  • 1965 Romallis Ellis, lightweight boxer (Olympic bronze 1988), born in Washington, D.C.
  • 1966 Clifford Robinson, American basketball center (NBA All Star 1994; 6th Man of Year Award 1993; Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers), born in Buffalo, New York (d. 2020)
  • 1966 Dennis Wise, English footballer
  • 1967 Donovan Bailey, Canadian athlete (WR 100m 9.84 1996; Olympic gold 100m, 4x100m 1996; World C'ship gold 100m, 4x100m 1995, 4x100m 1997), born in Manchester Parish, Jamaica
  • 1967 Miranda Otto, Australian actress
  • 1968 Darryll Lewis, American NFL cornerback, 1991-2001 (Houston/Tennessee Oilers, and 2 other teams), born in Bellflower, California
  • 1968 Paul Scherrer, American actor (Children of Corn II, Free Spirit), born in Rochester, New York
  • 1968 Wendy Doolan, Australian golfer (Evian Masters 2004), born in Sydney, New South Wales
  • 1968 Yannick Alléno, French chef, born in Puteaux, France
  • 1969 Adam Reiss, American astrophysicist (2011 Nobel Prize for Physics for discovery of the accelerating expansion of the Universe), born in Washington D.C.
  • 1969 Charles Mincy, American NFL safety, 1991-99 (Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and 2 other teams), born in Los Angeles, California
  • 1969 Craig White, cricketer (England all-rounder 1994-95, AIS graduate)

Lei JunLei Jun (53 years old)

1969 Chinese businessman and founder of Xiaomi Inc, born in Xiantao, Hubei

  • 1971 Laurence Cottle, Welsh session rock, jazz, and jazz-fusion bass guitarist and composer (Earthworks; Alan Parsons Project; Black Sabbath), born in Swansea, Wales
  • 1971 Michael McCary, American R&B singer (Boyz II Men), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • 1971 Paul van Dyk {Mattias Paul], German DJ, and record producer, born in Eisenhüttenstadt, Germany
  • 1972 Angela Bloomfield, New Zealand actress
  • 1972 Charles Gipson, American baseball player
  • 1972 Željko Kalac, Australian soccer player
  • 1973 Kristie Boogert, Rotterdam Neth, tennis star (1996 Paris)
  • 1973 Mariza [Marisa dos Reis Nunes], Portuguese fado singer, born in Maputo, Portuguese Mozambique
  • 1973 Scott Storch, Canadian-American hip-hop producer, born on Long Island, New York
  • 1974 Frida Hallgren, Swedish actress
  • 1975 Benjamin Kowalewicz, Canadian rock singer and songwriter (Billy Talent), born in Pierrefonds, Quebec
  • 1975 Jacob "Jake" Cinninger, American rock guitarist, and songwriter (Umphrey's McGee), born in Niles, Michigan
  • 1975 Jonathan Scarfe, Canadian actor