Historical Figures Born in 1956

Christine Lagarde

Jan 1 Christine Lagarde, French lawyer and politician, 1st female head of the IMF, born in Paris

Jan 1 Abdalla Hamdok, Sudanese politician (Prime Minister of Sudan 2021-22), born in Al Dibaibat, Sudan
Jan 2 Lynda Barry, American cartoonist
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, born in Moscow, Russia (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 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, American astronaut (STS 32, STS 43), born in Cleveland, Ohio
Feb 19 Roderick MacKinnon, American biologist (2003 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for work on ion channels), born in Burlington, Massachusetts

Jeffrey Robert Immelt

Feb 19 Jeffrey Robert Immelt, American chairman of General Electric, born in Cincinnati, Ohio

Feb 20 Charles Cummins, Clintwood Va, 3rd of 5 siblings born on 2/20
Feb 24 Judith Butler, American philosopher, and gender theorist, born in Cleveland, Ohio
Feb 29 Jonathan Coleman, Anglo-Australian entertainer
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

Mar 14 Natalya Kuleshova, Russian cosmonaut, born in Moscow, Soviet Union
Mar 14 Alexey Pajitnov, Russian video game designer and computer engineer (Tetris), born in Moscow, Soviet Union
Mar 17 Patrick McDonnell, American cartoonist (Mutts), born in Elizabeth, New Jersey
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 Oppenheim, British MP (C), born in London, England
Mar 22 Generosa Ammon, American widow of murdered multimillionaire Ted Ammon, suspect in his death, born in Laguna Beach, California (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 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 William Joseph Burns, American Diplomat and government official (Director of the CIA 2021-), born in Fort Bragg, North Carolina
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, American 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, American Major USAF and astronaut, born in Amarillo, Texas
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

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 Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, 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 20 John Carney, American politician, Governor of Delaware (2017-), born in Willington, Delaware
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 25 Larry Hogan, American politician, Governor of Maryland (2015-), born in Washington, D.C.
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 30 Allison Roe MBE, New Zealand marathon runner (NYC, Boston 1981; Seoul 1982), born in Auckland, New Zealand
May 30 Jonathan Idema, Poughkeepsie, New York, torturer, kidnapper and con artist (d. 2012)
May 30 David-Maria Sassoli, Italian politician and journalist, European Parliament President (2019-22), born in Florence, Italy (d. 2022)
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, American astronaut (STS 58, 76, sk 90), born in Mount Clemons, Michigan
Jun 5 Roger Michell, British stage and screen director (Blue/Orange; Notting Hill; Hyde Park On Hudson), born in Pretoria, South Africa (d. 2021)
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

Ray Nagin

Jun 11 [Clarence] Ray Nagin, American politician (Mayor of New Orleans, 2002-2010), born in New Orleans, Louisiana

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 20 Jim Prentice, Canadian politician, Premier of Alberta (2014-15), born in South Porcupine, Ontario (d. 2016)
Jul 21 Michael Connelly, American crime writer (Hieronymus "Harry" Bosch novels), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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 1 Doug Burgum, American businessman (Great Plains Software) and politician, Governor of North Dakota (2016-), born in Arthur, North Dakota
Aug 2 Fulvio Melia, Italian-American physicist, astrophysicist and author, born in Gorizia, Italy
Aug 3 Abhisit Vejjajiva, 27th Prime Minister of Thailand (2008-11), born in Wallsend, Northumberland, England
Aug 7 Kent Rominger, American astronaut (STS 73, 80, 85), born in Del Norte, California
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 attorney and politician (Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas), born in Houston, Texas
Aug 26 Maneka Gandhi, Indian politician and activist, wife of Sanjay Gandhi, born in Delhi, India

Tsai Ing-wen

Aug 31 Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwanese politician, academic and 7th President of the Republic of China (Democratic Progressive Party: 2016-), born in Taipei, Taiwan

Aug 31 Masashi Tashiro, Japanese television performer
Sep 2 Angelo Fusco, Provisional Irish Republican Army member
Sep 3 Patrick McGeown, Irish IRA member, born in Belfast, Northern Ireland (d. 1996)
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

Sep 16 Kevin R. Kregel, American pilot and astronaut (STS 70, 78, 87), born in Amityville, New York
Sep 16 Mark Daniel Gearan, American campaign manager (Al Gore), born in Gardner, Massachusetts
Sep 16 Nick Banton, founder of Body Positive (d. 1994)
Sep 17 Brian Andreas, American writer, sculptor, painter and publisher
Sep 18 Chris Hedges, American journalist and author (War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning), born in St. Johnsbury, Vermont
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: 2016-19), born in Eastbourne, England

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 8 Scott Michael Pellaton, American barefoot water ski champ, born in Brentwood, California
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

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 (And Their Children After Them), born in Ohio
Oct 25 Danny Gans, American entertainer, born in Los Angeles, California (d. 2009)
Oct 26 Stephen Gumley, Australian businessman (1st CEO of Australian Defence Materiel Organisation)
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

Oct 30 Tim Roemer, American politician (Rep-D-Indiana), born in South Bend, Indiana
Oct 31 Charles Moore, British editor-in-chief (Sunday Telegraph), born in Hastings, Sussex, England
Oct 31 Anders Lago, Swedish Social Democratic politician, born in Jönköping, Sweden
Nov 10 Mohsen Badawi, Egyptian entrepreneur and political activist, born in Cairo, Egpyt
Nov 13 Charlie Baker, American politician, Governor of Massachusetts (2015-), born in Elmira, New York
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 Collins, American USAF and astronaut (STS 63, 84), born in Elmira, New York
Nov 25 Ena Heese, South African costume designer (Willem of Orange)
Nov 25 Hélène Goudin, Swedish politician
Nov 26 Nico Slothouwer, Dutch poet (The Man and His Bag), born in Deventer, Netherlands (d. 1987)
Dec 10 Michael VerMeulen, American journalist and magazine editor (British GQ), born in Lake Forest, Illinois (d. 1995)
Dec 10 Rod Blagojevich, American politician (Governor of Illinois, 2003-09 - impeached and removed), and convicted felon (corruption and solicitation of bribes), born in Chicago, Illinois
Dec 17 Amado Carrillo Fuentes, Mexican drug lord (Juárez Cartel), born in Guamuchilito, Mexico (d. 1997)
Dec 18 Reinhold Ewald, German physicist and cosmonaut (Soyuz TM-25), born in Mönchengladbach, West Germany
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 Chéri Samba (Mbimba N'zinga), Congolese contemporary artist, born in Kinto M’Vuila, Democratic Republic of Congo
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? 65 or 66 years old
Generation: Baby Boomer

Chinese Zodiac: Goat/Sheep (Jan 1 - Feb 11), Monkey (Feb 12 - Dec 31)

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