On This Day
Discover events that happened On This Day including famous birthdays and notable deaths. Each day we highlight famous people, past and present, who have impacted our world. Browse sections by selecting the links below or click the calendar to view events on another day.
December 4
Events on This Day
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1916
97 years agoSomerset Maugham sets sail for Pago Pago, a voyage that would become the basis for his story "Miss Thompson."
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1933
80 years agoPresident Franklin D. Roosevelt issues an executive order establishing the Federal Alcohol Control Administration.
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2007
6 years agoSinger and pianist Rufus Wainwright releases a live tribute album to Judy Garland entitled Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall.
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2009
4 years agoAmerican exchange student Amanda Knox is convicted of murdering her British roommate in Italy. In October 2011, she is retried and acquitted.
December 4
Born on This Day
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Jay-Z
- In these groups:
- Famous Celebrity Couples
- Musical Monikers
- Name Changers
Jay-Z
Entrepreneur, Music Producer, Rapper / 1969 -
Rapper and hip-hop entrepreneur Jay-Z has won Grammy Awards, helmed Def Jam Records, created a clothing line, and married Beyoncé Knowles.
Born: December 4, 1969
Age: 43 years old
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Occupation: Entrepreneur, Music Producer, Rapper -
Marisa Tomei
- In these groups:
- Best Supporting Actress Oscar Winners
- Famous Sagittarians
- Famous Actresses
Marisa Tomei
Actress / 1964 -
American actress Marisa Tomei has starred in a number of successful films, including My Cousin Vinny and Slums of Beverly Hills.
1964 | 48 years old
Actress -
Francisco Franco
- In these groups:
- Hispanic Political Figures
- Famous Sagittarians
- Famous Dictators
Francisco Franco
Dictator / 1892 - 1975
Francisco Franco led a successful military rebellion to overthrow the Spanish democratic republic in the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939), and he subsequently established his lasting dictatorship.1892 | 82 years old
Dictator -
Jeff Bridges
- In these groups:
- Best Actor Oscar Winners
- Famous Sagittarians
- Famous Actors
Jeff Bridges
Film Actor / 1949 -
Jeff Bridges is an American actor best known for his film roles in The Last Picture Show, TRON, The Big Lebowski and Crazy Heart.
Born: December 4, 1949
Age: 63 years old
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
Occupation: Film Actor -
Lillian Russell
- In these groups:
- Famous Sagittarians
- Famous Actresses
- Famous People Named Russell
Lillian Russell
Actress / 1861 - 1922
Lillian Russell was a singer and actress who first made her mark in the 1881 film Grand Mogul.
1861 | 60 years old
Actress -
Tyra Banks
- In these groups:
- Female Talk Show Hosts
- Soul Train Guests
- Famous Sagittarians
Tyra Banks
Entrepreneur, Model, Talk Show Host / 1973 -
A former supermodel, Tyra Banks turned her runway success into a multimedia brand and worked at the helm of two successful television series simultaneously.
1973 | 39 years old
Entrepreneur, Model, Talk Show Host
December 4
Died on This Day
-
Frank Zappa
- In these groups:
- Guitar Heroes
- Sober Celebs
- Famous Sagittarians
Frank Zappa
Director, Songwriter, Guitarist, Music Producer / 1940 - 1993
Musician Frank Zappa made more than 60 albums during his career. Flouting convention and fusing musical genres, Zappa's music was often politically charged and intentionally shocking.
Died: December 4, 1993
Age: 52 years old
Place: Los Angeles, California , United States
Occupation: Director, Songwriter, Guitarist, ... -
Thomas Hobbes
- In these groups:
- Famous Academics
- Famous Historians
- Famous Arians
Thomas Hobbes
Historian, Philosopher, Political Scientist, Scientist, Academic Author, Journalist / 1588 - 1679
Thomas Hobbes, an English philosopher in the 17th century, was best known for his book Leviathan (1651) and his political views on society.
1679 | 91 years old
Historian, Philosopher, ... -
Hannah Arendt
- In these groups:
- Famous Academics
- Famous Libras
- Famous Philosophers
Hannah Arendt
Philosopher, Academic Author / 1906 - 1975
Hannah Arendt gained much attention for her writings on totalitarianism and Jewish affairs after World War II.
1975 | 69 years old
Philosopher, Academic Author
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profile name: Marisa Tomei profile occupation: Actress
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profile name: Francisco Franco profile occupation: Dictator
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profile name: Jeff Bridges profile occupation: Film Actor
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profile name: Lillian Russell profile occupation: Actress
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profile name: Tyra Banks profile occupation: Entrepreneur, Model, Talk Show Host
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profile name: Frank Zappa profile occupation: Director, Songwriter, Guitarist, ...
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profile name: Thomas Hobbes profile occupation: Historian, Philosopher, ...
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profile name: Hannah Arendt profile occupation: Philosopher, Academic Author
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profile name: Somerset Maugham profile occupation: Playwright
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profile name: Franklin D. Roosevelt profile occupation: U.S. President
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profile name: Rufus Wainwright profile occupation: Songwriter
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profile name: Judy Garland profile occupation: Pin-up
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profile name: Amanda Knox profile occupation:
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profile name: Woodrow Wilson profile occupation: Educator
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profile name: Jimmy Page profile occupation: Songwriter
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profile name: Robert Plant profile occupation: Songwriter
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profile name: Warren Beatty profile occupation: Film Actor
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profile name: Gary Busey profile occupation: Film Actor
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profile name: Christina Rossetti profile occupation: Poet
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profile name: Nick Park profile occupation: Artist
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profile name: Noam Chomsky profile occupation: Journalist
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profile name: Flip Wilson profile occupation: Television Actor
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Musical Monikers
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