1936-
Alex Haley was an American writer whose works of historical fiction and reportage depicted the struggles of African Americans.
1921-1992
Geri Halliwell was known as "Ginger Spice" in the all-girl, British pop group the Spice Girls. Halliwell has the most No. 1 singles of any female musician in U.K. history.
1972-
1939-
Swedish statesman Dag Hammarskjöld served as secretary-general of the United Nations for eight years, from 1953 until his death on September 18, 1961.
1905-1961
1959-
1860-1924
Mata Hari was a professional dancer and mistress who became a spy for France during World War I. Suspected of being a double agent, she was executed in 1917.
1876-1917
Angie Harmon is American model and actress who has starred in the series Baywatch Nights, Law & Order and Rizzoli & Isles.
1972-
Bob Harper came to fame as a coach on the TV weight-loss competition The Biggest Loser
1965-
Actress Valerie Harper won three consecutive Emmy Awards for playing Rhoda Morgenstern on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
1939-
Woody Harrelson is an actor know for his long-running role on TV's Cheers and his many film roles since.
1961-
Anna Harrison was a former First Lady of the United States. She was the wife of ninth President, William Henry Harrison, who died after only one month in office.
1775-1864
Benjamin Harrison is best known as the 23rd president of the United States. He was the grandson of President William Henry Harrison.
1833-1901
1902-1980
Robert Hayden was an African-American poet and professor who is best known as the author of poems, including “Those Winter Sundays” and “The Middle Passage.”
1913-1980
Issac Hayes was an American musician. His hit song "Soul Man" and the musical score for the 1971 film Shaft are legendary contributions to modern music.
1942-2008
Australian import Chris Hemsworth is known for portraying Marvel comic book hero Thor in the film series of the same name, and for his role in Snow White and the Huntsman.
1983-
Henry V served as joint king of Germany with Henry IV until he forced his father to abdicate the throne. Holy Roman emperor from 1111 to 1125, he was the last of the Salian line.
1086-1125
Matthew Henson was an African American explorer best known as the co-discoverer of the North Pole with Robert Edwin Peary in 1909.
1866-1955
James Hetfield is the lead guitarist and vocalist for heavy metal band Metallica, known for hits like "Enter Sandman" and "The Memory Remains."
1963-
Robert Hichens was a British mariner best known for being at the wheel of the RMS Titanic when it hit the iceberg that resulted in its sinking.
1882-1940
1951-
Myra Hindley was an serial killer of small children, murders she committed in partnership with boyfriend Ian Brady.
1942-2002
Filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock was nicknamed the "Master of Suspense" for employing a kind of psychological suspense in his films, producing a distinct viewer experience.
1899-1980
1930-2007
1906-1970
Academy Award–winning actor Dustin Hoffman starred in films like The Graduate (1967), Tootsie (1982), and Meet the Fockers (2004).
1937-
Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman has gained recognition for his work in a series of successful films including Capote and Doubt.
1967-
Hulk Hogan was one of the most beloved figures in the World Wrestling Federation in the 1980s, known for his flamboyance and the frenzy of his fans—Hulkamania.
1953-
François Hollande is the 24th president of France, and a member of the Socialist Party. He succeeded Nicolas Sarkozy in 2012.
1954-
Doc Holliday is a figure from the Old West, a gunman and a gambler who was part of the legendary shootout at the O.K. Corral.
1851-1887
1917-2001
Herbert Hoover was the 31st president of the United States (1929–1933), whose term was notably marked by the stock market crash of 1929 and the beginnings of the Great Depression.
1874-1964
1844-1889
1890-1946
Whitney Houston was an American singer and actress whose first four albums, released between 1985 and 1992, amassed global sales in excess of 86 million copies.
1963-2012
1939-
Writer Ted Hughes wrote poetry, non-fiction and children’s books. He was married to poet Sylvia Plath who committed suicide a year after he left her.
1930-1998
1906-1987
Actor Timothy Hutton won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his performance in Ordinary People. His notable films include Beautiful Girls and Playing God.
1960-
1894-1963
Iman is a retired supermodel from the country of Somalia. She's married to rocker David Bowie.
1955-
1940-
1833-1899
The daughter of wildlife expert Steve Irwin, Bindi Irwin has appeared on such animal-themed shows as The Crocodile Hunter and Bindi: The Jungle Girl.
1998-
1762-1830
Alejandro Gonzales Iñárritu is a Mexican film director whose 1999 feature film, Amores Perros, won an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film.
1963-
Joseph Jackson is best known for being the father of of international pop superstar Michael Jackson.
1929-
As the lead singer of the Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger has become a rock legend for his gritty, blues-influenced songs and for his charismatic stage presence.
1943-
P.D. James is an English mystery writer best known for her series of novels featuring fictional detective Adam Dalgliesh of Scotland Yard.
1920-
Actress Susan Saint James is best known for her roles on hit TV shows The Name of the Game (1968) and McMillan & Wife (1971). She was nominated twice for an Emmy award for her role as a divorced mom on the sitcom Kate & Allie (1984).
1946-
1884-1950
A respected television journalist, Peter Jennings served as ABC's nightly news anchor from 1983 to 2005.
1938-2005
Fashion designer Betsey Johnson developed her edgy, offbeat style during the new wave/punk era of the late 1970s.
1942-
For 12 years, Earvin "Magic" Johnson dominated the court as one of America's best basketball players. In 1991, he announced that he had the AIDS virus.
1959-
Rafer Johnson is an American athlete who won a gold medal in the decathlon in the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome.
1935-
Track star Lolo Jones has won both USA and World championships in hurdle events, and is a member of the 2012 Olympic team.
1982-
1935-
1875-1961
1963-
1942-
1979-
Chris Kelly is best known for making up one half of the rap duo Kris Kross, who had a No. 1 hit with their 1992 song "Jump."
1978-2013
Tony-nominated actress Anna Kendrick played Jessica, Bella Swan's friend, in the Twilight movies, based on Stephanie Meyer's teenage vampire novels.
1985-
Anthony Kennedy is an associate justice on the U.S. Supreme Court who was appointed by Ronald Reagan.
1936-
Jennifer Kessy is a beach volleyball player, who, along with teammate April Ross, won a silver medal at the 2012 Olympic Games.
1977-
Francis Scott Key was an attorney and poet who wrote the lyrics to "The Star-Spangled Banner," the U.S. national anthem.
1779-1843
1950-
1919-2007
Sante Kimes is a convicted murderer who killed socialite Irene Silverman in a scheme to seize property.
1934-
1931-
Tawny Kitaen is best known for appearing in music videos in the 1980s, including Whitesnake's "Here I Go Again" video. She later starred on reality televison series like The Surreal Life and Celebrity Rehab.
1961-
Henry Knox was a bookstore owner who became a Major General under George Washington during the American Revolution and later Secretary of War.
1750-1806
Cult leader David Koresh led the Branch Davidians in a deadly 51-day stand-off against the FBI and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
1959-1993
Michael Kors is a fashion designer and judge on the television show, Project Runway. He designed the Michelle Obama's dress for her first official portrait.
1959-
Peter Krause is an American actor who found fame playing lead roles on television series such as HBO's Six Feet Under and NBC's Parenthood.
1965-
1971-
1945-
Stanley Kubrick was an American filmmaker best known for directing Dr. Strangelove, Clockwork Orange, 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Shining and Full Metal Jacket.
1928-1999
1963-
Film and television actress Mila Kunis came to fame on the sitcom That '70s Show. In film, she's co-starred in such hits as Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Black Swan.
1983-
Stanley Kunitz was an American poet who served as Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress (1974; 2000). He won the Pulitzer Prize for his work Selected Poems 1928-1958 (1958).
1905-2006
Drew Lachey first made it big as part of the 1990s boy band 98 Degrees. He won the second season of Dancing With the Stars in 2006.
1976-
Steve Lacy was a jazz soprano saxophonist known for his work with Thelonius Monk and other jazz greats.
1934-
1968-
1798-1859
1950-
Stieg Larsson was the Swedish author best known for his Millenium novels, including The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
1954-2004
Jennifer Lawrence is known for her roles in The Hunger Games and Winter’s Bone, and is heralded as one of the most promising young actresses working today.
1990-
T. E. Lawrence was a British Army officer during the Arab Revolt against Ottoman Turkish rule. He became known as Lawrence of Arabia, based on the 1962 film.
1888-1935
1922-
1957-
Matt LeBlanc is an American actor most famous for his role as Joey Tribbiani on the hit television series, Friends.
1967-
Italian Jewish chemist Primo Levi survived a year at Auschwitz against all odds. He is best known his moving memoir, If This Is a Man.
1919-1987
1774-1809
1950-
Robert Todd Lincoln was an American lawyer and secretary of war best known as the first-born son of President Abraham Lincoln.
1843-1926
French physicist Gabriel Lippmann created the first color photographic plate. The creation earned him the 1908 Nobel Prize for Physics.
1845-1921
1789-1846