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 21
Events on This Day
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1898
115 years agoThe radioactive element radium is discovered by Marie Curie and Pierre Curie. It will take another two years to isolate the element.
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1967
46 years agoThe Graduate, starring Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft, opens in New York City.
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1985
28 years ago"Say You, Say Me" by Lionel Richie hits number one. The song was recorded for the film White Nights, starring Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gregory Hines.
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2009
4 years agoPresident Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama get H1N1 flu shots and declare the vaccine safe.
December 21
Born on This Day
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Ray Romano
- In these groups:
- Celebrity Golfers
- TV Dads
- Celebrities Who've Written Children's Books
Ray Romano
Actor / 1957 -
American actor and comedian Ray Romano is best known for his CBS hit Everybody Loves Raymond in which Raymond plays a father and husband.
Born: December 21, 1957
Age: 55 years old
Birthplace: Queens, New York, United States
Occupation: Actor -
Kiefer Sutherland
- In these groups:
- Famous Celebrity Couples
- Famous Fathers
- Vampires
Kiefer Sutherland
Actor / 1966 -
Actor Kiefer Sutherland, son of Donald Sutherland, appeared in numerous coming-of-age films throughout the 1980s, including Stand by Me and The Lost Boys.
1966 | 46 years old
Actor -
Jane Kaczmarek
- In these groups:
- TV Moms: 21st Century
- Famous Sagittarians
- Famous Actresses
Jane Kaczmarek
Theater Actress, Television Actress / 1955 -
Actress Jane Kaczmarek is best known for playing the strict, yet unpredictable, Lois Wilkerson on the popular television sitcom Malcolm in the Middle.
1955 | 57 years old
Theater Actress, Television Actress -
Jane Fonda
- In these groups:
- Fitness Gurus
- Best Actress Oscar Winners
- Beatty's Babes
Jane Fonda
Actress / 1937 -
Jane Fonda is an American actress best known for her acting career, political activism and aerobic-exercise videos. The daughter of acclaimed actor Henry Fonda, the actress has won two Oscars.
Born: December 21, 1937
Age: 75 years old
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Occupation: Actress -
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.
1940 | 52 years old
Director, Songwriter, Guitarist, ... -
Samuel L. Jackson
- In these groups:
- Famous Harlem Residents
- Gap-Toothed Grinners
- Sober Celebs
Samuel L. Jackson
Film Actor / 1948 -
Samuel L. Jackson is known as one of the hardest-working Hollywood actors. In 2011, he was named the highest-grossing actor of all time.
1948 | 64 years old
Film Actor
December 21
Died on This Day
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F. Scott Fitzgerald
- In these groups:
- Famous Harlem Residents
- Imbibers
- Famous Irish-Americans
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Author / 1896 - 1940
American short-story writer and novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald is known for his turbulent personal life and his famous novel The Great Gatsby.
Died: December 21, 1940
Age: 44 years old
Place: Hollywood, California , United States
Occupation: Author -
George Patton
- In these groups:
- Famous Lookalikes
- Automobile Accident Victims
- Famous Military Veterans
George Patton
General / 1885 - 1945
General George Patton led the Third Army in a very successful sweep across France during World War II in 1944. He was skilled at tank warfare.
1945 | 60 years old
General -
Pinckney Pinchback
- In these groups:
- Famous Military Veterans
- Names We Like
- Famous Taureans
Pinckney Pinchback
Civil Rights Activist, Governor, U.S. Representative, U.S. Governor / 1837 - 1921
Pinckey (P.B.S.) Pinchback is best known as the first person of African American descent to become governor of a U.S. state.
1921 | 84 years old
Civil Rights Activist, Governor, ...
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profile name: Kiefer Sutherland profile occupation: Actor
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profile name: Jane Kaczmarek profile occupation: Theater Actress, Television Actress
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profile name: Jane Fonda profile occupation: Actress
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profile name: Frank Zappa profile occupation: Director, Songwriter, Guitarist, ...
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profile name: Samuel L. Jackson profile occupation: Film Actor
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profile name: F. Scott Fitzgerald profile occupation: Author
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profile name: George Patton profile occupation: General
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profile name: Pinckney Pinchback profile occupation: Civil Rights Activist, Governor, ...
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profile name: Pierre Curie profile occupation: Physicist
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profile name: Dustin Hoffman profile occupation: Film
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profile name: Anne Bancroft profile occupation: Film Actress
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profile name: Lionel Richie profile occupation: Songwriter
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profile name: Mikhail Baryshnikov profile occupation: Ballet Dancer
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profile name: Gregory Hines profile occupation: Actor
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profile name: Barack Obama profile occupation: U.S. Representative
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profile name: Walt Disney profile occupation: Entrepreneur
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profile name: Diana Ross profile occupation: Singer
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profile name: Harry Chapin profile occupation: Songwriter
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profile name: Ron Howard profile occupation: Film Actor
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profile name: Rickey Henderson profile occupation: Baseball Player
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