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

Famous People Born in December 1928

  • Dec 2 Dan Jenkins, American author, sportswriter (Sports Illustrated), born in Fort Worth, Texas (d. 2019)
  • Dec 2 Jörg Wolfgang Demus, Austrian classical pianist and composer, born in St. Pölte, Austria (d. 2019)
  • Dec 3 Jack McMahon, American basketball guard and coach (player Rochester Royal, St. Louis Hawks; coach Cincinnati Royals, San Diego Rockets, Pittsburgh Condors), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 1989)
  • Dec 4 Dena Dietrich, American actress ("Mother Nature" in Chiffon margarine commercials), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (d. 2020)
  • Dec 4 Frank Tiberi, American jazz saxophonist, bassoonist (Benny Goodman, Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Herman), band leader, and educator (Berklee), born in Camden, New Jersey
  • Dec 4 Hebe de Bonafini, Argentine human rights activist (co-founded Mothers of Plaza de Mayo), born in Ensenada, Argentina (d. 2022)
  • Dec 6 Bert Geoffrey Achong, Trinidadian pathologist and inventor (electron microscopist), born in Port of Spain, Trinidad (d. 1996)
  • Dec 6 Bobby Van [Stein], American stage and screen musical singer and actor (The Affairs of Dobie Gillis; Small Town Girl), born in The Bronx, New York (d. 1980)

Noam Chomsky (95 years old)

Dec 7 American linguist (founded transformational grammar), philosopher and political activist, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  • Dec 7 Raymond Warren, British composer (Cello Requiem; Variations on a Gloucester Chime), and educator (Queen's University - Belfast, 1955-72), born in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England
  • Dec 8 Ulric Neisser, America psychologist (Intelligence: Knowns and Unknowns, Bell Curve task force head), born in Kiel, Germany (d. 2012)
  • Dec 9 André Milhoux, Belgian racing driver, born in Bressoux, Belgium
  • Dec 9 Richard "Dick" Van Patten, American actor, businessman, and animal welfare advocate (Tom Bradford in 8 is Enough), born in Queens, New York (d. 2015)
  • Dec 10 Barbara Nichols, American actress (Dear Heart, Disorderly Orderly), born in Queens, New York (d. 1976)
  • Dec 10 Dan Blocker, American actor Cimarron City - "Tiny"; Bonanza - "Hoss"), born in DeKalb, Bowie County, Texas (d. 1972)
  • Dec 10 John Colicos, Canadian actor (Battlestar Galactica), born in Toronto, Ontario (d. 2000)
  • Dec 11 Peter Firmin, British children's book illustrator and puppet maker (The Saga of Noggin the Nog; Clangers), born in Harwich, Essex, England (d. 2018)
  • Dec 11 Tomás Gutiérrez Alea, Cuban filmmaker (Muerte de un burócrata), born in Havana, Cuba (d. 1996)
  • Dec 12 (Henry) Lionel Blair [Ogus], Canadian-British choreographer, tap dancer, actor, and television presenter., born in Montreal, Quebec (d. 2021)
  • Dec 12 Chinghiz Aitmatov, Soviet-Kyrgyz author and best-known figure in Kyrgyzstan's literature (Jamila), born in Kirghiz ASSR, Soviet Union (d. 2008)
  • Dec 12 Helen Frankenthaler, American abstract expressionist artist (Arden), born in Manhattan, New York (d. 2011)
  • Dec 12 Lionel Blair [Ogus], Canadian choreographer (Give Us a Clue), born in Montréal, Québec
  • Dec 12 Lonesome Sundown [Cornelius Green III], American blues singer and guitarist, born in Donaldsonville, Louisiana (d. 1995)
  • Dec 13 Jack Tramiel, American Businessman (Amiga, Commodore 64), born in Łódź, Poland (d. 2012)
  • Dec 13 Joe Messina, American soul, jazz, and R&B session guitarist (Soupy Sales; The Funk Brothers), born in Detroit, Michigan (d. 2022) [1]
  • Dec 13 Jutta Müller, German figure skating coach (GDR 3 x Olympic gold, 10 x World C'ship gold), born in Chemnitz, Germany (d. 2023)
  • Dec 13 W. Gordon Smith, Scottish playwright, born in Edinburgh, Scotland (d. 1996)
  • Dec 15 Friedensreich Hundertwasser, Austrian-New Zealand artist and architect (Hundertwasserhaus) known for his work in environmental protection, born in Vienna, Austria (d. 2000)
  • Dec 15 Ida Haendel, Polish-British-Canadian child prodigy violinist, teacher, and author (Woman with Violin), born in Chelm, Poland (d. 2020)
  • Dec 15 Jerry Wallace, American country and pop singer ("Primrose Lane"; "If You Leave Me Tonight I'll Cry"), born in Guilford, Missouri (d. 2008)
  • Dec 15 Jimmy Nelson, American ventriloquist (Nestles - Farfel the Dog), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2019)
  • Dec 16 Doug Ford, Australian cricket wicket-keeper (successful NSW of 50's), born in Maryville, New South Wales (d. 2019)
  • Dec 16 Peter Nailor, British civil servant, historian, and academic, born in UK (d. 1996)
  • Dec 16 Philip K. Dick, American sci-fi author (Hugo-1963; Blade Runner), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1982)
  • Dec 17 Eli Beeding, Sherman, TX, Air Force Captain and rocket test pilot, (d. 2013)
  • Dec 17 Marilyn Beck, American newspaper columnist and entertainment reporter, born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2014)
  • Dec 18 Józef Glemp, Polish cardinal, born in Inowrocław, Poland (d. 2013)
  • Dec 19 Andrés Prieto, Chilean soccer forward (16 caps; Universidad Católica, Español) and manager (Universidad Católica, Liverpool FC, Bolívar, Real Santa Cruz), born in Santiago, Chile (d. 2022)
  • Dec 19 Galt MacDermot, Canadian composer (Hair), born in Montreal, Quebec (d. 2018)
  • Dec 19 Michael Hurd, British composer and musicologist known for his choral music (Jonah-Man Jazz), born in Gloucester, England (d. 2006)
  • Dec 19 Morris "Moose" Charlap, American Broadway composer (Peter Pan; Kelly), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 1974)
  • Dec 19 Nathan Oliveira, American painter (Seated Figure with Pink Background), sculptor, and printmaker, born in Oakland, California (d. 2010)
  • Dec 19 Rubens Minelli, Brazilian soccer manager (SC Internacional, SE Palmeiras, SC Corinthians, Santos FC, Al-Hilal SFC, Saudi Arabia), born in São Paulo, Brazil (d. 2023)
  • Dec 20 Charles Donald Adams, British bass-baritone opera singer (D'Oyly Carte Opera Company,; Gilbert and Sullivan For All), born in Bristol, United Kingdom (d. 1996)
  • Dec 20 Jack Christiansen, American NFL football player. 1951-58 (Detroit Lions - 3 x Champion, 5 X Pro Bowl), NFL and college coach (San Francisco 49ers, Stanford University), born in Sublette, Kansas (d. 1986)
  • Dec 21 Edwin "Ed" Nelson, American actor (Peyton Place, Along Came a Spider), born in New Orleans, Louisiana (d. 2014)
  • Dec 21 Thomas Rajna, British-Hungarian pianist, and composer (Amarantha; Stop All The Clocks), born in Budapest, Hungary (d. 2021)
  • Dec 22 Piero Angela, Italian science journalist and television host (Quark), born in Turin, Italy (d. 2022)
  • Dec 23 (Murrey) "Buddy" Harman, American country music session drummer (Grand Ole Opry; Elvis Presley; Patsy Cline; Brenda Lee; Ween), born in Nashville, Tennessee (d. 2008)
  • Dec 23 Chronis Aidonidis, Greek folk and traditional music singer, born in Karoti, Greece (d. 2023)
  • Dec 25 Harry Klein, English jazz saxophonist, born in London (d. 2010)
  • Dec 25 Irish McCalla, American actress and artist (Sheena Queen of Jungle), born in Pawnee City, Nebraska (d. 2002)
  • Dec 28 Kamilló Lendvay, Hungarian composer (Pezzo Concertanto), conductor, and educator, born in Budapest, Hungary (d. 2016)
  • Dec 28 Moe Koffman, Canadian jazz saxophonist and flautist (Cool and Hot Sax), born in Toronto, Ontario (d. 2001)
  • Dec 29 Bernard Cribbins, British character actor (Old Jack’s Boat; Doctor Who – “Wilfred Mott”; The Railway Children), voice-over artist (The Wombles; Jackanory), and novelty song singer (Right Said Fred), born in Oldham, Lancashire, England (d. 2022)
  • Dec 29 John Kennedy Sr., Australian Rules Football coach (Australian Football Hall of Fame legend; VFL Premiership 1961, 71, 76; Hawthorn FC; North Melbourne FC), born in Melbourne, Australia (d. 2020)

Bo Diddley (1928-2008)

Dec 30 American rock `n' roll pioneer guitarist (Bo Diddley), born in McComb, Mississippi

  • Dec 30 Jack Montrose, American "cool jazz" tenor saxophonist and arranger, born in Detroit, Michigan (d. 2006)
  • Dec 31 Amarillo Slim [Thomas Preston], American hall of fame professional poker player (1971 World Series main event), born in Amarillo, Texas (d. 2012)
  • Dec 31 Hugh McElhenny, American Pro/College Football HOF halfback (University of Washington; 5 × First-team All-Pro; 6 × Pro Bowl; Minnesota Vikings, SF 49ers), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 2022)
  • Dec 31 Ross Barbour, American singer (4 Freshmen), born in Columbus, Indiana (d. 2011)
  • Dec 31 Siné [Maurice Sinet], French cartoonist, born in Paris, France (d. 2016)
  • Dec 31 Veijo Meri, Finnish writer (Private Jokinen’s Marriage Leave), born in Viipuri, Finland (now Vyborg, Russia) (d. 2015)

About December 1928

How Old? 95 years old
Generation: Silent Generation
Leap Year: Yes

Chinese Zodiac: Dragon
Star Signs: Sagittarius (Nov 22 - Dec 21), Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 19)