John Travolta is a Golden Globe-winning actor whose breakout role was in "Saturday Night Fever." He had a career revival in Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction."
1954-
Mexican pop superstar Gloria Trevi's career fell apart in the 1990s when she and her manager were accused of corrupting minors, sexual abuse, and kidnapping.
1968-
Travis Tritt is a country music performer known for his bluesy, rock-and-roll-inspired songs.
1963-
French director François Truffaut established the New Wave movement in film. He won an Oscar for his 1972 film, Day for Night.
1932-1984
1885-1982
1924-2008
1914-1984
Barbara Tuchman, American historian and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, is best known for writing The Guns of August and Stilwell and the American Experience in China, 1911-45.
1912-1989
Mary Tudor was queen of England from 1553 to 1558. She became known as "Bloody Mary" for her persecution of Protestants.
1516-1558
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.
1921-1995
1935-
Guitarist Eddie Van Halen gave his name and amazing talent to a band that dominated the heavy metal scene (and the top 40 charts) in the 1970s and 80s.
1955-
1937-
Jules Verne was a 19th-century French author whose revolutionary science-fiction novels—such as Around the World in Eighty Days and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea—have entranced readers for over a century.
1828-1905
1890-1953
1775-1854
1930-
1930-
Alice Walker is a Pulitzer Prize-winning, African-American novelist and poet most famous for authoring The Color Purple.
1944-
Kerry Washington has appeared in such films as Ray, She Hate Me, The Last King of Scotland and Django Unchained (2013). She also stars on the TV series Scandal.
1977-
Paul Watkins, a member of Charles Manson's "family," was not involved in the infamous Tate/LaBianca murders, but testified for the prosecution in the Manson trial, specifically about Manson's theory of "Helter Skelter."
1950-1990
Simone Weil was a French intellectual, activist and Christian Mystic.
1909-1943
Rutina Wesley is an African-American actress known for her role as Tara Thornton on the HBO vampire series True Blood.
1979-
James West is an American inventor who developed the foil electret microphone, now used in 90 percent of all contemporary microphones, in 1962.
1931-
1862-1937
Vanna White is the longtime co-host of the popular game show Wheel of Fortune.
1957-
1861-1947
Pioneer author Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote the autobiographical “Little House” kids’ book series, the basis of the popular television show Little House on the Prairie.
1867-1957
English actor Tom Wilkinson is best known for his Oscar-nominated roles in the films In the Bedroom and Michael Clayton.
1948-
American composer and conductor John Williams has scored more than 75 films, including Jaws, the Star Wars trilogy, E.T. and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
1932-
Singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams has won wide acclaim for such albums as 1998's Car Wheels on a Gravel Road and 2011's Blessed.
1953-
Cindy Wilson is best known as a vocalist for new wave rock band the B-52s. Her brother was fellow founding member Ricky Wilson.
1957-
Henry Wilson was the 18th vice president of the United States, serving from 1873 to 1875 with President Ulysses S. Grant.
1812-1875
Australia's Rebel Wilson is best known for her funny film roles, including Kristen Wiig's roommate in Bridesmaids and the character Fat Amy in Pitch Perfect.
1986-
Billionaire Oprah Winfrey has hosted her own internationally popular talk show since 1986. She is also an actress, philanthropist, publisher, and producer.
1954-
1588-1649
Elijah Wood is known for playing the hobbit Frodo in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, as well as for parts in The Ice Storm, Sin City and Happy Feet.
1981-
1891-1942
1871-1955
English Writer Virginia Woolf became famous for her nonlinear prose style, especially noted in her novels Mrs. Dalloway and To the Lighthouse.
1882-1941
Casino resort developer Steve Wynn brought new life to the Las Vegas strip by renovating the Golden Nugget and opening The Mirage and The Bellagio.
1942-
A World War II fighter pilot ace, Chuck Yeager was the first to break the sound barrier when he flew the Bell X-1 rocket 670 mph in level flight in 1947.
1923-
Boris Yeltsin was the first freely elected President of Russia. He voluntarily resigned from the post after nine years, leaving the job to Putin.
1931-2007
Rapper-producer Dr. Dre first made it big with hip hop group N.W.A. in 1980s. He has also enjoyed success as a solo act and worked with Snoop Dogg, Eminem and 50 Cent.
1965-
1923-
Zhang Ziyi is a celebrated film actress known for starring in films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Rush Hour 2, 2046 and Memoirs of a Geisha.
1979-
1902-2002