Famous People Born in 1955 a to z

Shoko Asahara, founder of the religious cult Aum Shinrikyo, was convicted of masterminding the 1995 Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway. He was sentenced to death in 2004.

Comic actor and writer Rowan Atkinson starred on the TV series Not the Nine O'clock News and Blackadder. He is best known for his infamous role as Mr. Bean in the television series and 1997 feature film of the same name.

David Axelrod is a political consultant and strategist recognized for creating a winning campaign strategy for U.S. President Barack Obama.

Chris Berman has served as a host, anchor, and commentator on numerous ESPN programs, including NFL Countdown, NFL Sundays, SportsCenter and Baseball Tonight.

Sandra Bernhard is an actress and stand-up comedian best known for her role on Roseanne and in Martin Scorsese's The King of Comedy.

Jim J. Bullock is an American actor best known for his starring role in the 1980's sitcom Too Close for Comfort. He struggled to come out as gay and HIV positive.

Rosanne Cash is an American singer and songwriter best known for her country hits "Seven Year Ache" and "I Don't Know Why You Don't Want Me."

Mark David Chapman is a U.S. convicted murderer and former security guard, best known for shooting and killing Beatles member John Lennon.

Film actor and director Kevin Costner directed and starred in the epic film Dances With Wolves (1990), which won seven Oscars.

Willem Dafoe is a gravelly voiced actor known for such films as Platoon, The Last Temptation of Christ and Finding Nemo.

In his screen career of more than 30 years, Jeff Daniels has starred in a wide range of films, including The Purple Rose of Cairo and Dumb & Dumber.

Steve Earle is a Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter whose albums seamlessly blend rock, folk and country. He has also appeared on the HBO series The Wire and Treme.

Dodi Fayed was an Egyptian heir and film producer who dated and was dled with Princess Diana of Wales in a Paris car crash.

Entrepreneur Bill Gates founded the world's largest software business, Microsoft, with Paul Allen and became one of the richest men in the world.

Brendan Gleeson is an Irish actor whose role as Mad-Eye Moody in the Harry Potter films has made him known around the world.

Comedian and actor Gilbert Gottfried is known for his trademark squinting and screeching. He's appeared in several films and television programs.

Actor, director, writer and producer Kelsey Grammer is perhaps best known for his role as Dr. Frasier Crane in the sitcom Cheers and its spin-off Frasier.

Darrell Hammond is an actor, stand-up comedian, and impressionist known for his long stint on Saturday Night Live and his spot-on impression of former president Bill Clinton.

John Hinckley Jr. gained national notoriety in 1981 when he attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan outside of a Washington, D.C. hotel.

Mike Huckabee is a Republican politician and former governor of Arkansas. He ran for the 2008 Republican nomination for president, but lost to John McCain.

In 1981, punk rock musician Billy Idol launched his solo career with the release of Don't Stop, then formed a new band that released four successful records.

Distinguished journalist and television news correspondent Gwen Ifill is one of the most successful female African-American reporters of all time.

Iman is a retired supermodel from the country of Somalia. She's married to rocker David Bowie.

Warren Jeffs, the former leader of the polygamist sect Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, was convicted in 2011 for the sexual assault of underage girls.

Reality television star and "momager" Kris Jenner, wife of Bruce Jenner, appears on Keeping Up with the Kardashians with her husband and daughters Kim, Kourtney and Khloé.

Steve Jobs co-founded Apple Computers with Steve Wozniak. Under Job's guidance, the company pioneered a series of revolutionary technologies, including the iPhone and iPad.

English musician Mick Jones was a guitarist and singer for the punk rock band The Clash.

Steve Jones was the guitarist for the pioneering English punk rock band the Sex Pistols.

Actress Jane Kaczmarek is best known for playing the strict, yet unpredictable, Lois Wilkerson on the popular television sitcom Malcolm in the Middle.

American novelist and social activist Barbara Kingsolver wrote the best-selling novel The Poisonwood Bible. She was awarded the National Humanities Medal.

Jeff Koons is a famous contemporary artist whose work is influenced by an eclectic array of sensibilities.

Yo-Yo Ma is an acclaimed cellist and songwriter who has produced dozens of albums and won more than 15 Grammy Awards.

A former ABA star and three-time NBA Most Valuable Player, Hall of Fame center Moses Malone was the first basketball player to skip college and go pro.

American actor, comedian and television personality Howie Mandel is best known for creating the cartoon series Bobby's World and hosting Deal or No Deal.

Reba McEntire is a chart-topping, award-winning country music singer who has acted in films and starred on her own sitcom. She also owns several businesses.

Terry Nichols was one of the conspirators of the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.

Despite his successes, Australian golfer Greg Norman earned a reputation for his inability to sustain leads in several major tournaments.

Science educator Bill Nye is best known for hosting Bill Nye, the Science Guy, a PBS Kids show about science.

Actor Bill Paxton has made a name for himself with such films as Apollo 13 and Twister and the television series Big Love.

Senator Rob Portman of Ohio is an influential Republican politician who served as President George W. Bush's budget chief from 2006 to 2007.

Sharon Preston is a media planner and author who has said that she is the daughter of legendary jazz trumpeter Louis Armstrong.

John Roberts became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court after he was nominated by George W. Bush in 2005.

Nicolas Sarkozy served as France's 23rd president from 2007 to 2012. His term was marked by controversy, which included his marriage to Carla Bruni in 2008.

Maria Shriver married Arnold Schwarzenegger and is the first lady of California. She is part of the Kennedy family and was an NBC journalist for many years.

English musician Paul Simonon was bass player for the punk rock band The Clash.

Dee Snider is best known as the lead singer of glam metal band Twisted Sister.

Billy Bob Thornton is an American actor and director known for roles in such films as Monster's Ball and Sling Blade.

Irish author Colm Tóibín is famous for literary works about Irish society, creativity and homosexuality. His most popular novels include The Blackwater Lightship and The Master.

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.

Bruce Willis first made a splash on TV in Moonlighting, costarring Cybill Shepherd, but his fame really grew with films such as Die Hard, The Sixth Sense and The Expendables.