Famous Birthdays on February 4

Birthdays 1 - 200 of 253

• 1465 Frans van Brederode, Dutch rebel (Hook faction), born in Vianen (d. 1490)
• 1494 Francois Rabelais, French satirist (Gargantua and Pantagruel), born in La Devinière, Touraine, Kingdom of France (d. 1553)
• 1524 Luis de Camões, Portuguese poet (d. 1580)

• 1549 Eustache du Caurroy, French Renaissance composer, born in Gerberoy, France (d. 1609)
• 1575 Pierre de Bérulle, French cardinal and mystic (founded Congregation of the French Oratory), born in Cérilly, France (d. 1629)
• 1581 Daniel Selich, German court composer, born in Wittenberg, Electrorate of Saxony, Holy Roman Empire (d. 1626)
• 1620 Gustaf Bonde, Swedish statesman (d. 1667)
• 1646 Hans Erasmus Aßmann Abschatz, German poet, born in Würbitz, Lower Silesia (d. 1699)
• 1677 Johann Ludwig Bach, German violinist and composer, born in Thal, Electrorate of Saxony, Holy Roman Empire (d. 1731)
• 1688 Pierre de Marivaux, French playwright and novelist (La Vie de Marianne), born in Paris, France (d. 1763)
• 1693 George Lillo, English dramatist (The London Merchant), born in London, England (d. 1739)
• 1725 Dru Drury, English entomologist (d. 1804)

• 1751 Blas de Laserna, Spanish composer (championed traditional Spanish musical forms), born in Corella, Navarra, Spain (d. 1816)
• 1758 Pierre-Gabriel Gardel, French ballet dancer and choreographer (In L'Offrande à la Liberté), born in Nancy, France (d. 1840)
• 1764 Carel Hendrik Verhuell, Dutch-French vice-admiral who served Holland and France (Dutch Minister of the Navy), born in Doetinchem, Dutch Republic (d. 1845)
• 1767 Franz Volkert, Austrian composer for church and theatre, born in Friedland, Kingdom of Prussia (d. 1845)
• 1769 Samuel Wiselius, Dutch lawyer, patriot and writer (helped dismantle Dutch East India Co), born in Amsterdam (d. 1845)
• 1778 A. P. de Candolle, Swiss botanist (d. 1841)
• 1799 Joao Batista da Silva Leitao de Almeida Garret, Portuguese poet, playwright (Frei Luís de Sousa) and statesman, born in Porto, Portugal (d. 1854)
• 1802 Mark Hopkins, American educator and philosopher (President of Williams College), born in Stockbridge, Massachusetts (d. 1887)
• 1805 Andreas Henkel, German organist, composer, and pedagogue, born in Fulda, Nassau-Orange-Fulda, Holy Roman Empire (d. 1871)
• 1805 William Harrison Ainsworth, English writer (Old St Paul's, Rookwood), born in Manchester, England (d. 1882)
• 1808 Josef Kajetán Tyl, Czech playwright, writer and author of the Czech national anthem (Kde domov můj), born in Kutná Hora, Bohemia, Austrian Empire (d. 1856)

• 1826 Halbert Eleazer Paine, American lawyer and Brevet Major General (Union Army), born in Chardon, Ohio (d. 1905)
• 1831 Oliver Ames, 35th Governor of Massachusetts (d. 1895)
• 1841 Clément Ader, French aviation pioneer (d. 1926)
• 1842 Georg Brandes, Danish literary historian and critic (the Modern Breakthrough of Scandinavian literature), born in Copenhagen, Denmark (d. 1927)
• 1846 Nikolay Umov, Russian physicist and mathematician known for discovering the Umov-Poynting vector and Umov effect, born in Simbirsk, Russian Empire (d. 1915)
• 1848 Jean Aicard, French playwright and poet (Jeune Croyances), born in Toulon, France (d. 1921)
• 1849 Jean Richepin, French poet and writer (Les Chansons de Gueux), born in Médéa, French Algeria (d. 1926)
• 1859 Timofei Mikhailov, Russian revolutionary, member of Narodnaya Volya (d. 1881)
• 1865 Charles Bally, Swiss linguist (Le langage et la vie), born in Geneva, Switzerland (d. 1947)
• 1868 Constance Markievicz, Irish politician, revolutionary and suffragist (1 woman elected to UK House of Commons, 1st female cabinet minister in Europe), born in London, England (d. 1927) [1]

• 1872 Gotse Delchev, Macedonian Bulgarian revolutionary, born in Kukush, Ottoman Empire (d. 1903)
• 1873 Étienne Desmarteau, Canadian athlete (d. 1905)
• 1875 Ludwig Prandtl, German physicist (considered the father of aerodynamics - discovered the boundary layer), born in Freising, Germany (d. 1953)
• 1875 Raymond Moulaert, Belgian pianist and composer, born in Brussels, Belgium (d. 1962)
• 1876 Victor Vreuls, Belgian composer and musician, born in Verviers, Belgium (d. 1944)
• 1881 Fernand Léger, French painter (d. 1955)
• 1881 Kliment Voroshilov, Russian politician and army officer (Marshal of the Soviet Union, President of the Supreme Soviet 1953-60), born in Bakhmut Russian Empire (d. 1969)
• 1884 Rolland Beaumont, South African cricket batsman (5 Tests; Transvaal), born in Newcastle, Natal, South Africa (d. 1958)
• 1885 Cairine Ray Wilson, Canadian politician and diplomat (1st woman appointed to Canadian senate 1930), born in Montreal, Quebec (d. 1962) [1]
• 1888 Paul Althaus, German theologist (The Christian Truth), born in Obershagen, Province of Hanover (d. 1966)
• 1889 Walter Catlett, American actor (Climax, Front Page, Tale of 2 Cities), born in San Francisco, California (d. 1960)
• 1891 Jüri Lossmann, Estonian marathon runner (Olympic-silver 1920), born in Kabala, Governorate of Livonia (d. 1984)
• 1891 [Madabhushi Ananthasayanam] M. A. Ayyangar, Indian politician (Speaker of Lok Sabha, Governor of Bihar), born in Thiruchanoor, Madras, British India (d. 1978)
• 1892 Andreu Nin, Catalan politician (d. 1937)
• 1892 E. J. Pratt, Canadian poet (d. 1964)
• 1892 Ugo Betti, Italian judge and playwright (The Fugitive), born in Camerino, Italy (d. 1953)
• 1893 Abe Waddington, English cricket fast bowler (2 Tests, 1 wicket; Yorkshire CCC), born in Bradford, England (d. 1959)
• 1893 Bernard Rogers, American composer (The Warrior; Three Japanese Dances; To The Fallen), and pedagogue (Eastman School, 1929-67), born in New York City (d. 1968)

• 1895 Annie Romein-Verschoor, Dutch historian and author (Low Countries by the Sea; Erflaters - both written with her husband Jan), born in Hatert, Netherlands (d. 1978)
• 1895 Lidj Jasu [Iyasu], Emperor of Ethiopia (1913-16), born in Dessie, Ethiopia (d. 1935)
• 1895 Nigel Bruce, British actor (Rebecca, Suspicion, Sherlock Holmes), born in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico (d. 1953)
• 1895 [Johann Baptist] Hanns Albin Rauter, German SS and Police leader in the occupied Netherlands, born in Klagenfurt, Austro-Hungarian Empire (d. 1949)
• 1896 Friedrich Glauser, German-language Swiss writer (Sergeant Studer detective novels), born in Vienna, Austria-Hungary (d. 1938)
• 1896 Friedrich Hund, German physicist (d. 1997)
• 1897 Ludwig Erhard, German politician (CDU, as Chancellor of Germany 1963-66 led German "economic miracle"), born in Fürth, Kingdom of Bavaria (d. 1977)

• 1902 Hartley Shawcross, British lawyer and politician (d. 2003)
• 1902 Manuel Álvarez Bravo, Mexican pioneering artistic photographer, born in Mexico City (d. 2002) [1]
• 1903 Alexander Oppenheim, British mathematician (Oppenheim conjecture), born in Salford, England (d. 1997)
• 1903 Catherine Wolfe Donohue, American watch dial painter, born in LaSalle County, Illinois (d. 1938) [1]
• 1903 Edwin Denby, American dance critic and poet (Snoring in N; Horse Eats Hat), born in Tientsin, China (d. 1924)
• 1903 Frank L. Howley, American general (Commander of American sector of Berlin after WWII), born in Hampton, New York (d. 1993)
• 1904 Herman Bernard Wiardi Beckman, Dutch politician (SDAP, captured and killed at Dachau), born in Nijmegen, Netherlands (d. 1945)
• 1904 MacKinlay Kantor, American novelist (Andersonville), born in Webster City, Iowa (d. 1977)
• 1904 Predrag Milošević, Serbian pianist, conductor, composer (Simfonijeta), and pedagogue, born in Knjaževac, Serbia (d. 1988)
• 1905 Eddie Foy Jr [Edwin Fitzgerald Jr], American actor (The Pajama Game, Fair Exchange), born in New Rochelle, New York (d. 1983)
• 1905 Hylda Baker, English comedy actress, born in Farnworth, Lancashire, England (d. 1986)
• 1906 Clyde Tombaugh, American astronomer (discovered Pluto), born in Streator, Illinois (d. 1997)
• 1906 Dietrich Bonhoeffer, German pastor, theologist and anti-Nazi dissident (Confessing Church), born in Breslau, Silesia, German Empire (d. 1945)
• 1908 (Emmanuel) "Mannie" Klein, American swing jazz and session trumpeter (Frank Trumbauer; NBC Orchestra), born in New York City (d. 1994)
• 1909 (Arthur) "Artie" Bernstein, American jazz and session double bassist (The Dorsey Brothers), born in Brooklyn, New York City (d. 1964)
• 1909 Harold "Duke" Dejan, Creole-American jazz alto saxophonist and bandleader (Olympia Brass Band), born in New Orleans, Louisiana (d. 2002)
• 1909 Robert Coote, British actor (The Ghost and Mrs. Muir; Scaramouche), born in London, England (d. 1982)
• 1910 Uys Krige, South African playwright and novelist (Orphan of the Desert), born in Bontebokskloof, Cape Province (d. 1987)

• 1912 Erich Leinsdorf, Austrian-born American conductor, born in Vienna, Austria (d. 1993)
• 1912 James Craig [Meador], American actor (Devil & Daniel Webster, Cyclops), born in Nashville, Tennessee (d. 1985)
• 1912 Louis-Albert Cardinal Vachon, archbishop of Quebec (d. 2006)
• 1912 Ola Skjåk Bræk, Norwegian politician (d. 1999)

• 1914 Alfred Andersch, German writer (Red Head), born in Munich, Germany (d. 1980)
• 1915 Norman Wisdom, English comedian (Kraft Music Hall, Trouble In Store), born in London, England (d. 2010)
• 1915 Peter Butterworth, British actor and comedian (Carry On), born in Bramhall, England (d. 1979)
• 1915 Ray Evans, American lyricist with Jay Livingston, born in Salamanca, New York (d. 2007)
• 1915 William Talman, American actor (Crashout, The Hitch-Hiker, Perry Mason), born in Detroit, Michigan (d. 1968)
• 1916 Colin Morris, British playwright and documentary filmmaker (d. 1996)
• 1916 David Vassall Cox, British composer ("Lillibullero"), born in Broadstairs, Isle of Thanet, England (d. 1997)
• 1916 Gavin Ewart, English poet (Pleasures of the Flesh), born in London, England (d. 1995)
• 1916 Shah Maghsoud Sadegh Angha, 41st master of the Oveyssi-Shahmaghsoudi Sufi Order (d. 1980)
• 1917 Aga Yahya Khan, Pakistani general and politician (President of Pakistan 1969-71, Bangladesh genocide during his regime), born in Chakwal, Punjab, British India (d. 1980)
• 1918 Ida Lupino, British-American actress (Adventures of Sherlock Holmes) and director (The Hitch-Hiker), born in London, England (d. 1995)
• 1918 Luigi Pareyson, Italian philosopher (d. 1991)
• 1919 Frank van Klingeren, Dutch architect (De Meerpaal, Dronten) (d. 1999)
• 1919 Janet Waldo, American radio and actress (Judy Jetson, Shazzan, Penelope Pitstop), born in Yakima, Washington (d. 2016)
• 1920 Derek Worlock, English Roman Catholic Archbishop Liverpool, born in London (d. 1996)

• 1922 Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Indian classical singer (khayal form of singing, bhajans, abhangs), born in Ron, Karnataka, India (d. 2011)
• 1923 Belisario Betancur, Colombian politician, President of Colombia (1982-86), born in Amagá, Colombia (d. 2018)
• 1923 Conrad Bain, Canadian actor (Maude, Diff'rent Strokes), born in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada (d. 2013)
• 1925 Jutta Hipp, German-American jazz pianist and composer, born in Leipzig, German Weimar Republic (d. 2003)
• 1925 Russell Hoban, American author (Riddley Walker, Pilgermann), born in Lansdale, Pennsylvania (d. 2011)
• 1926 John Edward Caulwell Hearne, writer
• 1928 Dave Ketchum, American character actor (Get Smart - "Agent 13"), and writer (Happy Days; The Love Boat), born in Quincy, Illinois)
• 1929 Jerry Adler, American actor, director and producer (The Sopranos, The Good Wife), born in Brooklyn, New York
• 1929 Paul Burlison, American rockabilly musician (The Rock N Roll Trio), born in Brownsville, Tennessee (d. 2003)
• 1929 Reino Börjesson, Swedish soccer midfielder (10 caps; FIFA World Cup runner-up 1958; Jonsereds IF, IFK Göteborg, Norrby IF, Örgryte IS), born in Partille, Sweden (d. 2023)
• 1930 Jim Loscutoff, American basketball forward (NBA champion: 1957, 59–64; Boston Celtics), born in San Francisco, California (d. 2015)
• 1931 Barry Feinstein, American portrait photographer and album cover designer (Bob Dylan; Peter, Paul & Mary; Janis Joplin; George Harrison), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 2011)
• 1931 Isabel Martínez de Perón [Maria Martinez], wife of Juan Perón and President of Argentina (1974-76), born in La Rioja, Argentina
• 1932 Ivan Davis, Jr., American concert pianist, and teacher, born in Electra,Texas (d. 2018)
• 1933 Toshi Ichiyanagi, Japanese avant-garde composer, pianist, and first husband of Yoko Ono, born in Kobe, Japan (d. 2022)
• 1934 Jouko Linjama, Finnish organist and composer (Suomalainen sielunmessu (Finnish Mass for the Dead)), born in Kirvu, Finland (d. 2022)
• 1935 Martti Talvela, Finnish operatic bass (Bayreuth, 1960-85 ; Metropolitan Opera, 1968–87), born in Hiitola, Finland (d. 1989) [1]
• 1935 Wallis Mathias, Pakistan cricket batsman (21 Tests; first non-Muslim to play for Pakistan), born in Karachi, Pakistan (d. 1994)
• 1936 Daan van Golden, Dutch sculptor
• 1936 David Brenner, American stand-up comedian and TV talk show host (Nightlife) known as a pioneer of observational comedy, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 2014)
• 1936 Gary Conway, actor (Burke's Law, Land of the Giants), born in Boston, Massachusetts
• 1937 Ann Southam, Canadian electronic and classical music and dance composer (Glass Houses; Figures; The Emerging Ground), born in Winnipeg, Manitoba (d. 2010)
• 1937 Bill Ham, American music impresario and manager (ZZ Top), born in Waxahachie, Texas (d. 2016)
• 1937 Collin Wilcox, Highlands NC, actor (To Kill a Mocking Bird)
• 1937 David Newman, American filmmaker (d. 2003)
• 1937 Harry Jacobs, American football linebacker (AFL All Star 1965, 69; AFL C'ship 1964, 65 Buffalo Bills; Boston Patriots, NO Saints), born in Canton, Illinois (d. 2021)
• 1937 John Devitt, Australian swimmer (Olympic gold 4x200m freestyle relay 1956, 100m freestyle 1960; silver 100m freestyle 1956; International Swimming HOF), born in Sydney, Australia (d. 2023)
• 1937 Magnar Solberg, Norwegian 20K biathlete (Olympic gold 1968, 72)
• 1938 Donald Riegle, American politician (Senator-D-Michigan 1976-95), born in Flint, Michigan
• 1938 Joe Beard, American blues guitarist (No More Cherry Rose), born in Ashland, Mississippi
• 1939 Jacques Charlier, Belgian artist and sculptor, born in Liège, Belgium
• 1939 Stan Lundine, American politician (Rep-D-NY, 1976-86, Lieutenant Governor of New York. 1987-94), born in Jamestown, New York

• 1940 John Schuck, American actor (McMillan & Wife, Holmes & Yoyo), born in Boston, Massachusetts
• 1940 Martin Jones, British concert pianist, born in Witney, England
• 1940 Theodore "Ted" Stanley, American anesthesiologist and medical entrepreneur (created the fentanyl lollipop), born in Manhattan, New York (d. 2017)
• 1941 John Steel, British rock drummer (The Animals - "House of the Rising Sun"), born in Gateshead, County Durham, England
• 1941 Mike Deasy, American rock and jazz session guitarist (Beach Boys; Monkees; Randy Newman), born in Los Angeles, California
• 1942 Johnny Gamble [Frank Rosano], American rockabilly singer (The Classics - "Wicked Woman"), born in Boston, Massachusetts
• 1943 Alberto João Jardim, Portuguese president of the regional government of Madeira
• 1943 Barry Beckett, American keyboardist and record producer (David Hood, Jimmy Johnson, Roger Hawkins), born in Birmingham, Alabama (d. 2009)
• 1943 Cheryl Miller, American actress (Daktari - "Paula"; Born Free), born in Sherman Oaks, California
• 1943 Jimmy Johnson, American session guitarist and co-founder of the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, born in Sheffield, Alabama (d. 2019)
• 1943 Ken Thompson, American computer scientist who developed UNIX, born in New Orleans, Louisiana [1]
• 1944 Daniel Mica, American politician (Rep-D-Florida, 1979-89), born in Binghamton, New York
• 1944 El Anatsui, Ghanaian Sculptor (Bottle-top installations), born in Anyako, Ghana
• 1944 Florence LaRue, American pop and R&B vocalist (5th Dimension - "Up, Up, And Away"), born in Plainfield, New Jersey
• 1945 John Stubblefield, American jazz saxophonist, flute and oboe player (Mingus Big Band), born in Little Rock, Arkansas (d. 2005)
• 1946 Mary Meyer, American 500m speed skater (Olympic silver 1968)
• 1947 James Danforth "Dan" Quayle, USA (Sen-R-Ind, 44th Vice President 1989-93), born in Indianapolis, Indiana
• 1947 Jeannie Wilson, actress (Simon & Simon, Stir Crazy), born in Memphis, Tennessee
• 1947 Sanford Bishop, American politician (Rep-D-Georgia), born in Mobile, Alabama

• 1948 Marguerite "Marge" Ganser, American pop singer (The Shangri-Las - "Leader of the Pack"), born in Queens, New York City (d. 1996)
• 1948 Mary Ann Ganser, American pop singer (The Shangri-Las - "Leader of the Pack"), born in Queens, New York City (d. 1970)
• 1948 Rakesh Shukla, Indian cricket leg-spinner (1 Test India v Sri Lanka 1982), born in Kanpur, India
• 1948 Robert Coover, American writer (Pricksongs & Descants), born in Charles City, Iowa
• 1948 Rod Grams, American TV news anchor and politician (Senator-R-Minnesota 1995-2001, Rep-R-Minnesota 1993-95), born in Princeton, Minnesota (d. 2013)
• 1948 Tamás Wichmann, Hungarian sprint canoeist (World C'ship gold x 9; Olympic silver C-1 1000m 1972, C-2 1000m 1968; bronze C-1 1000m 1976), born in Budapest, Hungary (d. 2020)
• 1949 Ludger Rémy, German harpsichordist, conductor (Les Amis de Philippe), and musicologist, born in Kalkar, Germany (d. 2017)
• 1949 Michael Beck, actor (Hans Helms-Holocaust), born in Memphis, Tennessee
• 1949 Roy Yeager, American musician (Atlanta Rhythm Section), born in Greenwood, Mississippi
• 1950 (Michael) "Woody" Woodmansey, British drummer (David Bowie, 1970-73; The Spiders from Mars), born in Driffield, England
• 1950 James Dunn, American soul singer (The Stylistics - "Betcha by Golly, Wow"; "You Make Me Feel Brand New"), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• 1950 Pamela Franklin, actress (Satan's School for Girls), born in Tokyo, Japan
• 1950 Phil Ehart, American rock drummer, and songwriter (Kansas - "Point of Know Return"), born in Coffeyville, Kansas
• 1950 Robert Jan Stips, Dutch rock keyboardist, songwriter, and producer (Golden Earring, 1974-80; The Nits, 1983-96 & 2003-present), born in The Hague, Netherlands
• 1951 Dariush Eghbali, Iranian Persian-pop singer and musician, born in Tehran, Iran
• 1951 Patrick Bergin, Irish actor
• 1951 Stan Papi, American baseball player
• 1952 Jerry Shirley, British rock drummer (Humble Pie - "Black Coffee"), born in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, England
• 1952 Li Yinhe, Chinese sociologist and sexologist, born in Beijing, China
• 1952 Lisa Eichhorn, American actress (Cutter's Way, Yanks), born in Reading, Pennsylvania
• 1953 Jerome Powell, American Chair of the US Federal Reserve (2018-), born in Washington, D.C.
• 1953 Kitarō [Masanori Takahashi], Japanese New Age composer (Thinking of You), born in Toyohashi, Japan
• 1953 Svetlana Ulmasova, USSR, 3K (world title 1978)
• 1953 Tatsurō Yamashita, Japanese soft rock singer-songwriter ("Christmas Eve"; "Zutto Issho sa"), born in Toshima, Tokyo, Japan
• 1955 Mikuláš Dzurinda, Slovak Prime minister
• 1957 Don Davis, American trombonist, arranger, and composer, mostly for film (The Matrix), and television (Beauty & The Beast), born in Anaheim, California
• 1957 Evan Wolfson, American attorney and activist
• 1957 Philippe Saisse, French smooth jazz and session keyboardist, composer, and record producer, born in Marseille, France
• 1958 Mary Ann Pascal, actress (Samantha-Brothers)
• 1958 Tomasz Pacyński, Polish writer
• 1958 Werner Schwab, Austrian playwright and artist, born in Graz (d. 1994)

• 1959 Tsitsi Dangarembga, Zimbabwean writer (Nervous Conditions) and playwright, born in Mutoko, Southern Rhodesia
• 1959 Zenani Mandela, daughter of Nelson & Winnie Mandela
• 1960 Jenette Goldstein, American actress
• 1960 Jonathan Larson, American theater composer (Rent), born in White Plains, New York (d. 1996)
• 1960 Pamelyn Ferdin, actress (Happy Birthday Wanda June, Tool Box Murders)
• 1960 Siobhan Dowd, British/Irish author (d. 2007)
• 1960 Tim Booth, British rock singer (James - "Sit Down"), born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England
• 1961 Denis Savard, Canadian NHL centre (Chicago Blackhawks) named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players' in history, born in Pointe Gatineau, Canada
• 1961 Stewart O'Nan, American author (Snow Angels, The Names of the Dead), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• 1962 Alfred Twardecki, Polish historian of antiquity, born in Warsaw, Poland

• 1962 Dan Plesac, American MLB pitcher (Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates), born in Gary, Indiana

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