Birthdays in History
- Jan 1 Anatoli Borisovich Polonsky, Russian lt-colonel/cosmonaut
- Jan 1 Sergei Vasiliyevich Avdeyev, Russian cosmonaut (Soyuz TM-15, SK:TM-28)
- Jan 1 Mark R. Hughes, American entrepreneur (d. 2000)
- Jan 2 Lynda Barry, American cartoonist
- Jan 5 Chen Kenichi, Japanese-born chef, born in Tokyo, Japan
- Jan 5 Chen Kenichi [Ken'ichi Azuma], Japanese celebrity chef, "The Szechuan Sage" (Iron Chef Chinese), born in Tokyo, Japan
- Jan 9 Mike Walczewski, American public address announcer
- Jan 10 Antonio Muñoz Molina, Spanish writer (Royal Spanish Academy), born in Úbeda, Jaén, Spain
- Jan 15 Mayawati, Indian politician, born in New Delhi, India
- Jan 16 Ivan Safronov, Russian journalist (d. 2007)
- Jan 16 Saadeddine Othmani, Moroccan politician and Prime Minister of Morocco (2017-present), born in Inezgane, Morocco
- Jan 20 Maria Larsson, Swedish politician, born in Långasjö, Sweden
- Jan 26 Simon Howard, English large landowner (Castle Howard)
- Jan 31 Trevor Manuel, South African politician, born in Cape Town, South Africa
- Feb 5 Betty Ong, flight attendant that died on September 11, 2001, on American Airlines Flight 11
- Feb 12 Ad P Melkert, Dutch minister of Social Affairs (1994- ), born in Gouda, Netherlands
- Feb 13 Princess Alia bint Al Hussein, Jordanian Royal Family member, born in Amman, Jordan
- Feb 15 Hilda Beatriz "Hildita" Guevara, Cuba, daughter of "Che" Guevara
- Feb 19 George David Low, astronaut (STS 32, STS 43), born in Cleveland, Ohio
- Feb 19 Roderick MacKinnon, American biologist, Nobel laureate
Jeffrey Robert Immelt
Feb 19 Jeffrey Robert Immelt, American chairman of General Electric, born in Cincinnati, Ohio
Jeffrey Robert Immelt
- Feb 20 Charles Cummins, Clintwood Va, 3rd of 5 siblings born on 2/20
- Feb 24 Judith Butler, American philosopher
- Feb 29 Jonathan Coleman, Anglo-Australian entertainer
- Feb 29 Bob Speller, Canadian politician
- Feb 29 Aileen Wuornos, American serial killer (d. 2002)
- Feb 29 J. Randy Taraborrelli, American celebrity journalist
- Mar 5 Mark Handley, writer (Nell)
- Mar 9 Shashi Tharoor, Indian politician and diplomat (United Nations Under-Secretary General), born in London
- Mar 9 David Willetts, English Conservative Party politician, born in Birmingham, England
- Mar 11 Curtis L Brown Jr, NC, astronaut (STS 47, STS 66, 77, 85, sk:95)
Jamie Dimon
Mar 13 Jamie Dimon, American business executive and CEO of JPMorgan Chase, born in NYC, New York
Jamie Dimon
- Mar 14 Natalya Dmitriyevna Kuleshova, Russian cosmonaut
- Mar 14 Alexey Pajitnov, Russian video game designer (Tetris), born in Moscow, Soviet Union
- Mar 17 Patrick McDonnell, American cartoonist
- Mar 18 Deborah Jeane Palfrey, American escort owner, born in Charleroi, Pennsylvania (d. 2008)
- Mar 19 Alina Castro, Havanna Cuba, daughter of Fidel
- Mar 19 Yegor Gaidar, Russian politician and economist.
- Mar 20 Phillip Oppenhein, British MP
- Mar 22 Generosa Ammon, widow of Ted Ammon (d. 2003)
- Mar 23 Andrew Mitchell, British MP
- Mar 23 Laura Thorne, chef (named one of 10 best American chefs)
- Mar 23 José Manuel Barroso, Portuguese politician, president of the European Commission
- Mar 29 Lisa J Allen, TV reporter/lawyer
- Mar 30 Bill Butler, Scottish politician
- Apr 3 Boris Miljković, Serbian TV and theatre director, writer and lecturer, born in Zagreb, PR Croatia, FPR Yugoslavia
- Apr 4 Lamen Khalifa Fhimah, Suk Giuma Libya, bomber (Pan Am Flight 103)
- Apr 7 Annika Billström, Swedish politician
- Apr 7 Christopher Darden, American O.J. Simpson prosecutor
- Apr 15 Gregory J. Harbaugh, American astronaut (STS 39, 54, 71, 82), born in Cleveland, Ohio
- Apr 16 David M. Brown, U.S. Navy Captain and NASA astronaut, born in Arlington, Virginia (d. 2003)
- Apr 16 Lise-Marie Morerod, Swiss skier, born in Les Diablerets, Vaud, Switzerland
- Apr 17 Kaye Young, WBL forward (NY Stars, NJ Stars), born in Bunn, North Carolina
- Apr 17 Pillow [Theresa Jean Bell], American bodybuilder (Gold Classic 1983)
- Apr 20 Beatrice Ask, Swedish politician (Moderate Party), born in Sveg, Sweden
- Apr 21 Phillip Longman, American demographer
- Apr 28 Paul S Lockhart, Amarillo Tx, Major USAF/astronaut
- May 3 Marc Bellemare, French-Canadian lawyer and politician, born in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec
Akio Toyoda
May 3 Akio Toyoda, Japanese president of Toyota Motor Corporation, born in Nagoya, Japan
Akio Toyoda
- May 4 Michael L. Gernhardt, American NASA astronaut (STS 69, 83, 94, sk 100), born in Mansfield, Ohio
- May 4 David Guterson, American author (Snow Falling on Cedars), born in Seattle, Washington
- May 7 Jan Peter Balkenende, Prime Minister of the Netherlands (2002-10), born in Biezelinge, Netherlands
- May 10 Vladislav Listyev, Russian television anchor and journalist (d. 1995)
- May 11 Theresa Burke, Canadian journalist
- May 13 Aleksandr Yuriyevich Kaleri, Russian cosmonaut (Soyuz TM-14)
- May 13 Ravi Shankar [Sri Sri], Indian spiritual leader and founder of the Art of Living Foundation, born in Papanasam, India
- May 14 Gillian [Marucha] Bradshaw, American sci-fi author (Hawk of May)
- May 14 Steve Hogarth, Kendal England, vocals (Marillion-Clutching at Straws)
- May 17 Dave Sim, Canadian cartoonist
- May 19 Althea Gwyn, WBL center (NY Stars)
- May 20 Ingvar Ambjørnsen, Norwegian author (Elling tetralogy, Brødre i blodet), born in Tønsberg, Norway
- May 20 William Michaelian, American novelist and poet
- May 22 Lucie Brock-Broido, American poet and academic (Noctuary), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (d. 2018)
- May 23 Ursula Plassnik, Austrian politician and Minister of Foreign Affairs (2004-8), born in Klagenfurt, Austria
- May 24 Michael Jackson, Northern Irish clergyman (Archbishop of Dublin), born in Lurgan, County Armagh, Northern Ireland
- May 26 Frédéric Dutoit, French politician
- May 27 Cynthia McFadden, American television anchor
- May 28 Germaine Montenesdro, 2nd victim of NYC's Zodiac killer (survives)
- May 28 Mark Alexander Lees, rowing Coach
- May 30 Jonathan Idema, Poughkeepsie, New York, torturer, kidnapper and con artist (d. 2012)
- Jun 2 Mark L Polansky, pilot/astronaut, born in Paterson, New Jersey
- Jun 2 Malcolm Garrett, English graphic designer
- Jun 4 John Hockenberry, American journalist (HEAT with John Hockenberry), born in Dayton, Ohio
- Jun 5 Richard A Searfoss, Mount Clemons Mich, Astronaut (STS 58, 76, sk 90)
- Jun 6 Jay C Buckey, American physician/astronaut (STS 58 alt, sk: 90), born in NYC, New York
- Jun 9 Patricia Cornwell, American author ( Kay Scarpetta crime novels), born in Miami, Florida
- Jun 10 Georg Borwin, Duke of Mecklenburg, head of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
- Jun 22 Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Pakistani Politician and Foreign Minister
- Jun 25 Boris Trajkovski, 2nd President of the Republic of Macedonia, born in Monospitovo, Strumica, SR Macedonia, Yugoslavia (d. 2004)
- Jun 25 Bongiwe (Bongi) Dhlomo-Mautloa, South African artist, born in Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Jun 26 Azhar Cachalia, Scottish-South African leader (United Democratic Front), born in Scotland
- Jun 26 Bernard A. Harris Jr., African American astronaut (STS 55, 63), born in Temple, Texas
- Jun 27 Ted Haggard, American evangelical preacher (New Life Church, Colorado), born in Yorktown, Indiana
- Jun 28 Noel Mugavin, Australian rules football player, born in Koroit, Victoria
- Jun 29 Pedro Santana Lopes, 116th Prime Minister of Portugal (2004-05), born in Lisbon, Portugal
- Jul 3 Montel Williams, American TV talk show host (Montel), born in Baltimore, Maryland
- Jul 3 Vincent Margera "Don Vito", American reality TV Viva La Bam castmember, born in Chester, Pennsylvania
- Jul 10 Tom McClintock, American politician (U.S. House of Representatives from California), born in White Plains, New York
- Jul 17 Julie Bishop, Australian Liberal Party politician and Minister for Foreign Affairs (2013-present), born in Lobethal, South Australia
- Jul 17 Julie Bishop, Australian politician, Minister of Foreign Affairs (2017-), born in Lobethal, Australia
- Jul 20 Jim Prentice, Canadian politician
- Jul 21 Michael Connelly, American author
- Jul 24 Charles Crist, Governor of Florida
- Jul 25 Frances Arnold, American Chemist (Nobel Prize for Chemistry 2018), born in Edgewood, Pennsylvania
- Jul 29 Ronnie Musgrove, Former Governor of Mississippi
- Jul 30 Anita Hill, American academic and attorney, accused Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment, born in Lone Tree, Oklahoma
- Jul 30 Soraida Martinez, American painter and creator of Verdadism, born in Manhattan, New York City
- Jul 31 Deval Patrick, 71st Governor of Massachusetts (2007-15), born in Chicago, Illinois
- Aug 1 Tom Leykis, American radio personality (The Tom Leykis Show), born in The Bronx, New York
- Aug 2 Fulvio Melia, Italian-American physicist/astrophysicist and author
- Aug 3 Abhisit Vejjajiva, 27th Prime Minister of Thailand (2008-11), born in Wallsend, Northumberland, England
- Aug 7 Kent V Rominger, Del Norte Colo, US Navy /astronaut (STS 73, 80, 85)
- Aug 11 Pierre-Louis Lions, French mathematician
- Aug 15 Gordon Bruks, England, Dr/cosmonaut
- Aug 23 David Wolf, American astronaut (STS 58, sk: 89/91), born in Indianapolis, Indiana
- Aug 23 Andreas Floer, German mathematician (Floer homology), born in Duisburg, Germany (d. 1991)
- Aug 23 Valgerd Svarstad Haugland, Norwegian politician, born in Kvam, Norway
- Aug 24 John Culberson, American politician
- Aug 31 Masashi Tashiro, Japanese television performer
- Sep 2 Angelo Fusco, Provisional Irish Republican Army member
- Sep 3 Patrick McGeown, politician
- Sep 6 Bill Ritter, American politician (41st Governor of Colorado), born in Denver, Colorado
- Sep 8 David Carr, American journalist (New York Times), born in Minneapolis, Minnesota (d. 2015)
- Sep 9 Anatoli Pavlovich Artsebarsky, Russian colonel/cosmonaut (Soyuz TM-12)
- Sep 12 Sam Brownback, American attorney and politician (46th Governor of Kansas), born in Garnett, Kansas
- Sep 13 Alain Ducasse, French-born Monégasque chef, born in Orthez, France
- Sep 13 Oribe Canales, Cuban American celebrity hairdresser, born in Havana, Cuba (d. 2018)
- Sep 14 Kostas Karamanlis, Greek politician (Prime Minister of Greece 2004-09), born in Athens, Greece
- Sep 14 Lefteris Zagoritis, Greek lawyer and politician, born in Rhodes, Greece
David Copperfield
Sep 16 David Copperfield [Kotkin], American magician, born in Metuchen, New Jersey
David Copperfield
- Sep 16 Kevin R Kregel, Pilot/astronaut (STS 70, 78, 87), born in NYC, New York
- Sep 16 Mark Daniel Gearan, Gardner Mass, campaign manager (Al Gore)
- Sep 16 Nick Banton, founder (Body Positive)
- Sep 17 Brian Andreas, American writer, sculptor, painter and publisher
- Sep 18 Chris Hedges, American journalist and author
- Sep 23 Peter David, American writer
- Sep 25 Jamie Hyneman, American visual effects technician (MythBusters), born in Marshall, Michigan
- Sep 29 James Donald Halsell Jr, American retired USAF officer and astronaut (STS 65, 74, 83, 94), born in West Monroe, Louisiana
- Sep 30 Maria Esmeralda, Belgian princess/daughter of Leopold III/Lilian Baels
Theresa May
Oct 1 Theresa May, British Prime Minister (Conservative: 2016-), born in Eastbourne, England
Theresa May
- Oct 1 Gina Haspel, American intelligence officer, First female director of the US CIA, born in Ashland, Kentucky
- Oct 2 Murphy Morobe, South Afr UDF leader (spent 3 yrs in Robbeneiland Jail)
- Oct 6 Kathleen Webb, American comic book writer and artist
- Oct 7 Mike Shipley, Australian audio engineer (Paper Airplane), born in Sydney, Australia (d. 2013)
- Oct 8 Scott Michael Pellaton, barefoot water ski champ
- Oct 8 Janice Voss, American astronaut (shuttle radar topography mission), born in South Bend, Indiana (d. 2012)
- Oct 11 Nicanor Frutos, 47th President of Paraguay (2003-08), born in Coronel Oviedo, Paraguay
- Oct 16 James H Newman, Trust Territory of Pacific, PhD/Astronaut (STS 51, 69)
Mae Jemison
Oct 17 Mae Jemison, 1st African American woman in space (STS 47), born in Decatur, Alabama
Mae Jemison
- Oct 17 Robin LO Linschoten, Dutch ass. secretary of Social Affairs (VVD)
- Oct 18 Jim Talent, Des Peres, Missouri, American politician (Rep-R-Missouri)
- Oct 24 Dale Maharidge, American author
- Oct 25 Danny Gans, American entertainer, born in Los Angeles, California (d. 2009)
- Oct 26 Stephen Gumley, Australian businessman
- Oct 26 Regina Benjamin, 18th US Surgeon General (2009-13), born in Mobile, Alabama
- Oct 27 Jaq D. Hawkins, British author, occultist and lecturer, born in California
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Oct 28 Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of Iran (2005-13), born in Aradan, Iran
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
- Oct 30 Tim Roemer, (Rep-D-Indiana)
- Oct 31 Anders Lago, Swedish Social Democratic politician, born in Jönköping, Sweden
- Nov 1 Charles Moore, British editor-in-chief (Sunday Telegraph)
- Nov 10 Mohsen Badawi, Egyptian entrepreneur and activist
- Nov 14 Kenneth D Bowersox, Portsmouth Va, USN/astro (STS 50, 61, 73, 82)
- Nov 15 Brian Douglas Wells, American criminal (d. 2003)
- Nov 19 Eileen Marie Collins, Elmira NY, Mjr USAF/Astronaut (STS 63, 84)
- Nov 19 Ann Curry, American journalist
- Nov 20 Sergei Gayevich Severin, Russian cosmonaut
- Nov 25 Ena Heese, South African costume designer (Willem of Orange)
- Nov 25 Hélène Goudin, Swedish politician
- Nov 26 Nico Slothouwer, Dutch poet (Man & his Bag)
- Dec 10 Michael VerMeulen, journalist
- Dec 18 Reinhold Ewald, German cosmonaut (Soyuz TM-25)
- Dec 20 Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, Mauritanian 8th President of Mauritania (2009-present), born in Akjoujt, French West Africa
- Dec 26 Gail Tatterson, WBL center (NY Stars)
- Dec 26 Karen Smith, WBL forward (NY Stars)
- Dec 26 David Sedaris, American essayist, born in Binghamton, New York
- Dec 30 "Cherie" Samba (Mbimba N'zinga), Zaire painter (Pitie la prostituee)
- Dec 31 Martin Joseph Fettman, American researcher & astronaut (STS 58), born in Brooklyn, New York
- Dec 31 Steve Rude, American comics artist, born in Madison, Wisconsin
About 1956
How Old? 62 or 63 years old
Generation: Baby Boomer
Chinese Zodiac: Goat/Sheep (Jan 1 - Feb 11), Monkey (Feb 12 - Dec 31)