Famous December Birthdays a to z

Paul Klee was a prolific Swiss and German artist best known for his large body of work, influenced by cubism, expressionism and surrealism.

Alan King was a Jewish-American stand-up comedian who honed his skills in vaudeville, and went on to perform a number of memorable film and television roles.

Ed Koch was an outspoken attorney, author and media commentator who was the mayor of New York City from 1977 to 1989.

Jewish-American baseball pitcher Sandy Koufax starred for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers before elbow arthritis forced an early retirement.

Patricia Krenwinkel was a member of Charles Manson's "Family," and was convicted of the family's infamous 1969 murders of Sharon Tate and Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, which were orchestrated by Manson.

directed British actor Jude Law received an Academy Award nomination for his performance in Cold Mountain. He also played "Gigolo Joe" in Steven Spielberg's film A.I.

Stan Lee is a revered comic-book creator who co-launched superheroes like the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, Doctor Strange and the X-Men for Marvel Comics.

Singer-songwriter John Legend won his first Grammy Award with 2004's Get Lifted. The album went platinum, thanks in part to the hit single "Ordinary People."

Annie Lennox is a singer/songwriter known for her work with the Eurythmics and as a solo act. Her hits include “Sweet Dreams,” “Who’s That Girl?” and “Why.”

Actor Len Lesser played Uncle Leo on the sitcom Seinfeld. He also co-starred with Hollywood legends Steve McQueen, Robert DeNiro and Clint Eastwood.

James Ling was the former head of the Ling-Temco-Vought corporation, or LTV.

Sol Myron Linowitz was an American diplomat, lawyer and businessman known as a presidential adviser and as a co-founder of Xerox.

American actor Ray Liotta is best known for his on-the-edge tough-guy characterizations in films like Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas (1992) and No Escape (1994).

Lucy Liu is a TV and film actress known for her work on Ally McBeal and in the Charlie's Angels films.

Marie-Louise is best known for her marriage to the emperor Napoleon after his divorce from Josephine.

Lord Lucan is best known for being in the suspect in the murder of his children's nanny, Sandra Rivett, and then disappearing.

Susan Lucci is an American actress, best known for portraying Erica Kane on the daytime drama All My Children.

Shane McGowan is an Irish singer-songwriter who founded the folk-punk band the Pogues.

Aristide Maillol was a French artist, mostly known as a sculptor of monumental statues of female nudes.

John Malkovich is an award-winning actor who's known for his roles in films like Places in the Heart, Dangerous Liaisons and Being John Malkovich.

American country singer Barbara Mandrell scored No. 1 hits with "Sleeping Single in a Double Bed" and "Years."

Joe Manganiello has risen to fame as werewolf Alcide Herveaux on the television drama True Blood.

Actor, scriptwriter and improvisational comic Jason Mantzoukas has played Rafi on the FX show The League and co-starred with Sacha Baron Cohen in The Dictator.

American gymnast McKayla Maroney won a gold medal with the U.S. Olympics gymnastics team and a silver medal for the vault at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Mary Martin was a Tony Award-winning actress and singer famous for her roles in stage productions of Peter Pan, South Pacific and The Sound of Music.

Pop singer Ricky Martin was a member of Menudo as a teenager and is now known for such solo pop hits as "Livin' La Vida Loca" and "She Bangs."

Henri Matisse was a revolutionary and influential artist of the early 20th century, best known for the expressive color and form of his Fauvist style.

Journalist and political commentator Chris Matthews is best known as the talk show host of MSNBC's Hardball and The Chris Matthews Show.

Philadelphia's Michael McCary is known for his deep bass voice as part of the boy band Boyz II Men, which he quit in 2003 because of problems from scoliosis.

Comedian, actor, writer, director and producer Michael McDonald has done it all but is best known for his tenure on MADtv.

Joey McIntyre, the youngest member of the boy band New Kids on the Block, has also acted on Broadway, TV and film, and competed on Dancing with the Stars.

Margaret Mead is best known for her studies and publications on cultural anthropology.

Stephenie Meyer is best known for authoring the Twilight book series, which was later adapted for a film franchise.

Seth Meyers is a comedian, actor and writer known for hosting Saturday Night Live's "Weekend Update." He is also the slated replacement for Jimmy Fallon on Late Night.

Bette Midler sang "Wind Beneath My Wings" for the film Beaches and earned Oscar nods for her roles in The Rose and For the Boys.

Alyssa Milano started her career as a child star, appearing on TV's Who's the Boss? and onstage in Annie. She returned as an adult to the drama Charmed.

Henry Miller was a 20th century American writer, who created a new sort of novel—later characterized as a fictionalized autobiography.

Hip-hop artist Nicki Minaj was featured in seven songs on Billboard's Hot 100 at the same time, even before the release of her debut album in 2010.

Mo'Nique is an actress and stand-up comedian who won an Academy Award for her role in Precious.

Mahathir Mohamad was the fourth prime minister of Malaysia, holding office from 1981 to 2003. He improved the economy and was a champion of developing nations.

Singer Janelle Monáe became an R&B sensation in 2010 with the release of her critically acclaimed debut album, The ArchAndroid.

Actress Julianne Moore first became known for her role in the soap opera As The World Turns. Her films include The Fugitive, The Hours and Boogie Nights.

Rita Moreno is a Puetro Rican actress, of West Side Story (1961) fame, who throughout her career has broken new ground for Latinos in entertainment.

Jim Morrison was the charismatic singer and songwriter for the 1960 rock group the Doors until his death in a Paris bathtub at age 27.

John Allen Muhammad became an infamous figure as part of a sniper team that terrorized the Washington, DC, area for several weeks in October 2002

Edvard Munch was a Norwegian painter who has become widely known for his iconic pre-Expressionist painting The Scream.

Silent film director F.W. Murnau created the first major vampire film with 1924's Nosferatu, based on the novel Dracula by Bram Stroker.

Nobel Prize-winning Swedish economist and sociologist Gunner Myrdal is regarded as a major theorist of international relations and developmental economics.

"Baby Face" Nelson was a gangster, bank robber and triggerman who work for Al Capone and John Dillinger.

As Roman emperor, Nero’s reign was lavish and tyrannical. He killed his mother, persecuted Christians and is said to have "fiddled while Rome burned."

Michael Nesmith rose to fame as a member of the Monkees, a made-for-television group that turned into a real rock success story.

Actress Bebe Neuwirth won Tonys for her roles in Sweet Charity and Chicago, and Emmys for her role on the sitcom Cheers.

Charles Ng is a Chinese-American mass murderer who was sentenced to death after torturing and killing up to 25 people at Leonard Lake’s California ranch.

Lorenzo Nichols was one of the top drug lords in New York City in the 1980s. He is currently serving time in a New York State corrections facility.

Actress Nichelle Nichols is best known for her groundbreaking portrayal of Lieutenant Uhura on the original Star Trek television series.

Ted Nugent fronted the band Amboy Dukes in the 1970s. He has produced solo work since 1977, including the successful album Cat Scratch Fever.

With her signature shaved head, Sinead O'Connor emerged with a powerful and expressive voice, complex songs, and a fair share of controversy.

Ronnie O’Sullivan is an English Snooker player best known as one of the most talented and awarded athletes in the sport.

Ugandan statesman, prime minister and president Apollo Milton Obote founded the Uganda People's Congress.

Of Spanish descent, the devout, learned Catherine of Aragon was the 16th-century Queen of England due to her marriage to Henry VIII.

James Edward Oglethorpe was an 18th century member of British Parliament who also founded the U.S. colony of Georgia.

American Gymnast John Orozco is best known for his rise to the top of the gymnastics world and participation in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, England.

Beth Orton is an award-winning singer-songwriter and guitarist who plays folk and acoustic pop on albums like Comfort of Strangers and Sugaring Season.

British playwright John Osborne's Look Back in Anger ushered in a new movement in British drama and made him known as the first of the "Angry Young Men."