June Carter Cash
Famous Fiction Authors
Donna Summer
Angelina Jolie
My Ghost Story
I Survived
Babe Ruth
Johnny Cash
Georgia O'Keefe
I Survived
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.
February 8
Events on This Day
-
1587
426 years ago
Mary Queen of Scots is beheaded for treason against Queen Elizabeth I of England.
-
1865
148 years ago
Austria monk Gregor Mendel presents his theories of heredity to the National Science Society of Brünn.
-
1960
53 years ago
Construction for the Hollywood Walk of Fame begins. The first honorees included Ronald Colman, Burt Lancaster and Joanne Woodward.
-
1976
37 years ago
Martin Scorsese's film Taxi Driver is released, starring Robert De Niro. The film is later nominated for four Academy Awards.
February 8
Born on This Day
-
James Dean
- In these groups:
- Automobile Accident Victims
- Celebrities and Their Fast Cars
- Famous Dropouts
James Dean
Film Actor / 1931 - 1955
Actor and cultural icon James Dean starred in East of Eden, Rebel Without a Cause and Giant. He was killed in a tragic car accident at age 24.
Born: February 8, 1931
Birthplace: Marion, Indiana, United States
Occupation: Film Actor -
Ted Koppel
- In these groups:
- Famous Aquarians
- Famous News Anchors
- Famous People Named Ted
Ted Koppel
News Anchor, Journalist / 1940 -
Ted Koppel is an English-born U.S. broadcast journalist, best known as the anchor for Nightline from the program's inception in 1980 until 2005.
1940 | 73 years old
News Anchor, Journalist -
Jack Lemmon
- In these groups:
- Celebrity Enlistees
- Famous Military Veterans
- Best Actor Oscar Winners
Jack Lemmon
Film Actor / 1925 - 2001
The winner of two Oscars, Jack Lemmon was one of Hollywood’s finest actors, known for his roles in films like Some Like it Hot and The Odd Couple.
1925 | 76 years old
Film Actor -
Lana Turner
- In these groups:
- Numerous Nuptials
- Married Divorced Remarried
- Primetime Soap Stars
Lana Turner
Actress, Pin-up / 1921 - 1995
Lana Turner was a film actress and sex symbol who was "discovered" while drinking soda at a diner counter. She made over 50 films and was married seven times.
Born: February 8, 1921
Birthplace: Wallace, Idaho, United States
Occupation: Actress, Pin-up -
Seth Green
- In these groups:
- Famous Aquarians
- Famous Actors
- Famous Film Actors
Seth Green
Film Actor, Television Actor / 1974 -
Actor Seth Green gained notoriety as Scott Evil in Austin Powers, and also as Oz on the series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He also played Jimmy Bender on Greg the Bunny.
1974 | 39 years old
Film Actor, Television Actor -
Gary Coleman
- In these groups:
- Where Are They Now
- Child Stars
- Famous Aquarians
Gary Coleman
Television Actor, Reality Television Star / 1968 - 2010
Diminutive television star Gary Coleman made "What'choo talkin' 'bout, Willis?" a household catch-phrase in the 1980s.
1968 | 42 years old
Television Actor, ...
February 8
Died on This Day
-
Anna Nicole Smith
- In these groups:
- Marilyn Mimics
- Name Changers
- Weight Loss Winners
Anna Nicole Smith
Pin-up, Reality Television Star / 1967 - 2007
Anna Nicole Smith gained early fame as a model for Guess and Playboy magazine, and later became known for her marriage to 89-year-old oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall II.
Died: February 8, 2007
Age: 39 years old
Place: Hollywood, Florida , United States
Occupation: Pin-up, Reality Television Star -
Queen Mary I
- In these groups:
- Famous Scottish People
- Queen Elizabeth I and Queen Mary I
- Famous Sagittarians
Queen Mary I
Queen / 1542 - 1587
Mary Queen of Scots is one of the most fascinating and controversial monarchs of the 16th century who claimed the crowns of four nations in her lifetime.
1587 | 44 years old
Royalty -
Peter the Great
- In these groups:
- Famous Geminis
- Famous Tsars
- Famous Royalty
Peter the Great
Political Leader, Tsar / 1672 - 1725
Peter the Great was a Russian czar in the late 17th century, who is best known for his extensive reforms in an attempt to establish Russia as a great nation.
1725 | 52 years old
Political Leader, Tsar
Email Updates
Quiz
about Biography?
Answer questions and see how you rank against other players.
Play Nowprofile name: James Dean profile occupation: Film Actor
profile id: 9368366
profile name: Ted Koppel profile occupation: News Anchor, Journalist
profile id: 9378762
profile name: Jack Lemmon profile occupation: Film Actor
profile id: 9542242
profile name: Lana Turner profile occupation: Actress, Pin-up
profile id: 9542478
profile name: Seth Green profile occupation: Film Actor, Television Actor
profile id: 15720749
profile name: Gary Coleman profile occupation: Television Actor, ...
profile id: 183547
profile name: Anna Nicole Smith profile occupation: Pin-up, Reality Television Star
profile id: 9401343
profile name: Queen Mary I profile occupation: Royalty
profile id: 9542228
profile name: Peter the Great profile occupation: Political Leader, Tsar
profile id: 39282
profile name: Gregor Mendel profile occupation: Botanist
profile id: 9536613
profile name: Joanne Woodward profile occupation: Film Actress
profile id: 9372293
profile name: Burt Lancaster profile occupation: Film Actor
profile id: 9253965
profile name: Ronald Colman profile occupation: Warrior
profile id: 9271729
profile name: Robert De Niro profile occupation: Theater Actor
profile id: 9476727
profile name: Martin Scorsese profile occupation: Director
profile id: 38232
profile name: Walter Page profile occupation: Bassist
profile id: 248945
profile name: Lon Chaney Jr. profile occupation: Film Actor
profile id: 37714
profile name: Manuel Noriega profile occupation: Murderer
profile id: 38199
profile name: Eugène Atget profile occupation: Photographer
Your Connections
Sign in with Facebook to see how you and your friends are connected to famous icons.
Upcoming Birthdays
-
Walter Page
- In these groups:
- Famous Aquarians
- Famous Bass Players
- Famous People Named Walter
Walter Page
Bassist / 1900 - 1957
Walter Page was a pioneer of the Southwestern jazz style and a star of the Count Basie band during its greatest period.February 9, 1900
Bassist -
Lon Chaney Jr.
- In these groups:
- Creepy Actors
- Vampires
- Famous Aquarians
Lon Chaney Jr.
Film Actor / 1902 - 1973
Lon Chaney Jr. was known for being the only actor to play all of the "big four" monsters: the Mummy, the Wolf Man, Frankenstein and Dracula.
February 10, 1902
Film Actor -
Manuel Noriega
- In these groups:
- Famous Aquarians
- Famous Military Leaders
- Famous Generals
Manuel Noriega
Murderer, General, Political Leader / 1934 -
Manuel Noriega was the military ruler of Panama who ran a corrupt puppet government there until the United States drove him out in 1990.
February 11, 1934
Murderer -
Eugène Atget
- In these groups:
- Famous Aquarians
- Famous Actors
- Famous Photographers
Eugène Atget
Actor, Photographer / 1857 - 1927
French photographer Eugène Atget recorded everything he considered picturesque or artistic in and around Paris, with an eye for strange and unsettling images.
February 12, 1857
Photographer
Famous Aquarians
-
Lisa Perez Jackson
- In these groups:
- Famous Aquarians
- Famous Engineers
- Famous Chemists
Lisa Perez Jackson
Civil Servant, Engineer, Chemist / 1962 -
Lisa Perez Jackson is a chemical engineer who in 2008 became the first African American to head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.February 8, 1962
Civil Servant, Engineer, Chemist -
Jillian Michaels
- In these groups:
- Fitness Gurus
- Famous Aquarians
- Reality TV Stars
Jillian Michaels
Entrepreneur, Reality Television Star / 1974 -
A high-profile trainer and life coach, Jillian Michaels starred on the reality TV show The Biggest Loser and has created her own fitness franchise.
February 18, 1974
Entrepreneur, Reality Television Star
