Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift.

Famous People Born in August 1904

  • Aug 1 Eli Mintz [Edward Satz], Polish-American stage and screen actor (The Goldbergs; Boardwalk), born in Lemberg, Austrian-Hungary (now Lviv, Ukraine) (d. 1988)
  • Aug 3 Clifford D. Simak, American sci-fi author (Hugo, Empire, Way Station), born in Millville, Wisconsin (d. 1988)
  • Aug 3 Dolores del Rio, Mexican silent screen actress (Deseada, Bugambilia), born in Durango, Mexico (d. 1983)
  • Aug 4 Helen Kane [Schroeder], American actress (Heads Up, Pointed Heels), born in The Bronx, New York (d. 1966)
  • Aug 4 Joe Tate, English footballer, born in Old Hill, Cradley Heath, England (d. 1973)
  • Aug 4 Theodore Newton, American actor (Ace of Aces, Voltaire), born in Lawrenceville, New Jersey (d. 1963)
  • Aug 4 Witold Gombrowicz, Polish author (Ferdydurke, Pornography), born in Małoszyce, Russian Empire (d. 1969)
  • Aug 5 Kenneth Thimann, English American botanist (Balzan Prize), born in Ashford, England (d. 1997)
  • Aug 6 Ballard Berkeley [Blascheck], British actor (Fawlty Towers, East meets West, The BFG), born in Margate, Kent, England (d. 1988)
  • Aug 6 Henry Iba, American Basketball HOF coach (Olympic gold 1964, 68; NCAA C'ship 1945, 46 Oklahoma State Uni) and executive (AD Oklahoma State 1935-70), born in Easton, Missouri (d. 1993)

Ralph Bunche (1904-1971)

Aug 7 American diplomat, UN delegate and 1st person of color to win the Nobel Peace Prize (1950), born in Detroit, Michigan

  • Aug 8 (William) Elmo Tanner, American big band singer, whistler (Ted Weems Orchestra - "Heartaches"), bandleader, and DJ, born in Nashville, Tennessee (d. 1990)
  • Aug 8 Achille Varzi, Italian auto racer (14 Grand Prix wins), born in Galliate, Italy (d. 1948)
  • Aug 8 István Szelényi, Hungarian pianist and composer, born in Altsohl, Austria-Hungary (d. 1972)
  • Aug 10 Geraldo [Gerald Walcan Bright], British "sweet music" dance band bandleader (Gaucho Tango Orchestra), born in London, England (d. 1974)
  • Aug 11 Jess Stacy, American jazz pianist (Benny Goodman, 1935-39; the Great Gatsby), born in Bird's Point, Missouri (d. 1995)

Alexei Nikolaevich (1904-1918)

Aug 12 Last Tsarevich of Russia and son of Tsar Nicholas II, born in St. Petersburg, Russian Empire

  • Aug 12 Frank Ervin, American harness racer (Hambletonian 1959, 66) (d. 1991)
  • Aug 12 Kay Campbell [Catherine Hibben], American actress (All My Children), born in Kansas City, Missouri (d. 1985)
  • Aug 13 Charles "Buddy" Rogers, American musician and actor (An Innocent Affair, Wings), born in Olathe, Kansas (d. 1999)
  • Aug 13 Humphrey Waldock, British lawyer (UN International Law Commission, 1961-72), and jurist (European Court of Human Rights, 1966-74; International Court of Justice, 1973-81), born in Colombo, Ceylon (d. 1981)
  • Aug 15 Bill Baird, American puppeteer (Kukla Fran & Ollie, Muppet Show), born in Grand Island, Nebraska (d. 1987)
  • Aug 16 Wendell Stanley, American biochemist, first to crystallize a virus (Nobel 1946), born in Ridgeville, Indiana (d. 1971)
  • Aug 17 John Hay Whitney, American financier, diplomat and publisher of the NY Herald Tribune (1961-67), born in Ellsworth, Maine (d. 1982) [1]
  • Aug 17 Leopold Nowak, Austrian musicologist (International Bruckner Society; Mozart's Requiem), and educator (Vienna University, 1932-73), born in Vienna, Austria (d. 1991)
  • Aug 17 Mary Cain, American newspaper editor and politician (d. 1984)
  • Aug 18 W. Sterling Cole, American politician (Rep-R-NY, Director International Atomic Energy Agency), born in Painted Post, New York (d. 1987)
  • Aug 18 [Francis] Max Factor, American CEO of Max Factor Cosmetics, born in St. Louis, Missouri (d. 1996)
  • Aug 19 June Collyer, American actress (Before Midnight, Charley's Aunt), born in New York City (d. 1968)
  • Aug 20 Jaap [Jacobus Albertus Wilhelmus] Burger, Dutch politician and chairman (PvdA), born in Willemstad, Netherlands (d. 1986)

Count Basie (1904-1984)

Aug 21 Jazz pianist, organist, and bandleader ("One O'Clock Jump"; "April In Paris"), born in Red Bank, New Jersey

Deng Xiaoping (1904-1997)

Aug 22 Chinese revolutionary and paramount leader of China (1978-92), born in Guang'an, Sichuan

  • Aug 24 (Henry) "Buster" Smith, American jazz alto saxophonist, arranger, and bandleader (Blue Devils; Count Basie), born in Alfdorf, Texas (d. 1991)
  • Aug 24 Rodd Redwing, American actor (Buffalo Bill In Tomahawk Territory; Son Of Geronimo), and stunt coach, born in New York City [or maybe India] (d. 1971)
  • Aug 26 Christopher Isherwood, English novelist (Goodbye to Berlin), born in High Lane, Cheshire (d. 1986)
  • Aug 27 Norah Lofts, British author (The Town House), born in Shipdham, Norfolk, England (d. 1983)
  • Aug 28 Secondo Campini, Italian jet engine pioneer, born in Bologna, Kingdom of Italy (d. 1980)
  • Aug 29 Werner Forssmann, German urologist (Nobel 1956), born in Berlin (d. 1979)

About August 1904

How Old? 119 or 120 years old
Generation: Greatest Generation
Leap Year: Yes

Chinese Zodiac: Dragon
Star Signs: Leo (Jul 23 - Aug 22), Virgo (Aug 23 - Sep 22)