Famous People Born in 1931

Discover the most famous people born in 1931. The list includes people like A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, James Dean, James Earl Jones, Rupert Murdoch, Mikhail Gorbachev and many more. This list of celebrities is loosely sorted by popularity. People featured on this list, include political leaders, philosophers, poets and playwrights born in 1931. This list includes people from United States, United Kingdom, India & Canada and many more countries.

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James Dean

(American Actor Who is Remembered as a Cultural Icon of Teenage Disillusionment and Social Estrangement)

Birthdate: 8th February

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Marion, Indiana, United States

Died: September 30, 1955

Best remembered for his role in the film, Rebel Without a Cause, actor James Dean was a cultural icon of teenage disillusionment. Despite having a difficult childhood, he was an exceptional student. He began acting as a young man and was quite successful. Sadly, he was killed in a car crash at the young age of 24.

Birthdate: 17th January

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Arkabutla, Mississippi, United States

A veteran actor with a career spanning more than seven decades, James Earl Jones has been described as "one of America's most distinguished and versatile" actors. He initially aspired to be a doctor but fate had other plans for him. He began his career as a stage actor and soon joined films as well.

William Shatner

(Famous for His Portrayal of Captain James T. Kirk in the 'Star Trek' Franchise)

Birthdate: 22nd March

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Montreal, Canada

Canadian actor, William Shatner, is best known for his roles in the television series Boston Legal, a legal drama for which he won two Emmy Awards and Star Trek, a science fiction adventure. He has also worked in many other sitcoms and films and has authored a number of science fiction novels. He is a singer and a spoken-word artist too.

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Birthdate: 22nd January

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Clarksdale, Mississippi, United States

Died: December 11, 1964

The King of Soul Sam Cooke is best remembered for his hits A Change is Gonna Come, You Send Me, and Wonderful World. He began singing gospel as a child and later joined The Soul Stirrers. He was shot and killed by a motel manager in Los Angeles.

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Leonard Nimoy

(Known for Playing 'Spock' in The 'Star Trek' Franchise)

Birthdate: 26th March

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Died: February 27, 2015

Three-time Emmy nominee Leonard Nimoy is best known for playing the iconic character Spock in the Star Trek franchise, for almost 50 years. Spock became a cult, and even Nimoy’s autobiographies were named after the character. He also appeared in Zombies of the Stratosphere and hosted a documentary series.

Desmond Tutu

(First Black African Archbishop of Cape Town & Nobel Peace Prize Winner)

Birthdate: 7th October

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Klerksdorp, South Africa

Died: December 26, 2021

Desmond Tutu is known for his anti-Apartheid activism in South Africa. The first black Archbishop of Cape Town, he has also been the Bishop of Johannesburg. His efforts to eradicate AIDS, poverty, anti-LGBT sentiments, and human rights violations earned him the Nobel Peace Prize and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

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Rita Moreno

(Puerto Rican Actress and Singer Best Known for Her Role as 'Anita' in 'West Side Story')

Birthdate: 11th December

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Humacao, Puerto Rico

Rita Moreno is an American actress, singer, and dancer. Renowned for her work in film, television, and theater in a career spanning more than seven decades, Rita is among a few elite performers to have received all four major American entertainment awards: Tony, Grammy, Emmy, and an Oscar. Among Rita Moreno’s numerous accolades is the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Angie Dickinson

(Actress role in Gun the Man Down (1956) with James Arness and the Western film Rio Bravo (1959))

Birthdate: 30th September

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Kulm, North Dakota, United States

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Mickey Mantle

(One of the Greatest Switch Hitters in Baseball History)

Birthdate: 20th October

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Spavinaw, Oklahoma, United States

Died: August 13, 1995

Professional baseball player Mickey Mantle played his entire Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the New York Yankees. He played as a center fielder, right fielder, and first baseman. Regarded by many as the greatest switch hitter in baseball history, he won the Triple Crown in 1956 and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.

Birthdate: 17th September

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: New York, New York, United States

Died: June 6, 2005

Anne Bancroft was an American actress known for her versatility. Having won an Oscar, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and two Tony Awards, she is one of the 24 performers to have achieved the Triple Crown of Acting. In 2010, her husband Mel Brooks credited her for being an inspiration behind the development of his musicals Young Frankenstein and The Producers.

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Barbara Eden

(Actress, Singer and Producer Known for Her Role as ‘Jeannie’ in the TV Series ‘I Dream of Jeannie’)

Birthdate: 23rd August

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Tucson, Arizona, United States

Barbara Eden is an American actress known for playing Jeannie in the TV series I Dream of Jeannie. Over the years, Barbara Eden has made significant contributions to television for which she was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She was also honored with a Doctor of Laws degree by the University of West Los Angeles.

Mikhail Gorbachev

(Former General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union)

Birthdate: 2nd March

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Privol'noe, Russia

Born into a poor peasant family, Mikhail Gorbachev went on to become one of the most influential figures of the Soviet Union. He served in various positions, most notably as the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. He is regarded as one of the most prominent personalities of the 20th century.

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Regis Philbin

(Actor)

Birthdate: 25th August

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States

Birthdate: 5th January

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: San Diego, California, United States

As an actor and filmmaker, Robert Duvall has had a remarkable career spanning more than 60 years. In recognition of his service to performing arts, President George W. Bush honored him with the National Medal of Arts at the White House in 2005. Apart from being an actor, he is also a skilled Argentine Tango dancer.

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Birthdate: 15th October

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, India

Died: July 27, 2015

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, India’s 11th president, had earlier been an aerospace scientist at DRDO and ISRO. Known as the “People’s President” and the “Missile Man of India,” he was instrumental in India's Pokhran-II nuclear tests. He died of a cardiac arrest while delivering a lecture at IIM Shillong.

Birthdate: 6th February

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Temple, Texas, United States

Died: July 9, 2019

Rip Torn is best remembered for his Emmy-winning role of Arthur in The Larry Sanders Show and his Academy Award-nominated role of Marsh Turner in Cross Creek. Fans also loved him as Zed in the Men in Black franchise. He lent his voice to many animated films and video games.

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Willie Mays

(One of the Best All-Around Players in the History of Baseball)

Birthdate: 6th May

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Westfield, Alabama, United States

Willie Mays is considered one of the all-time greats of baseball. His breathtaking catch of Vic Wertz’s fly ball is etched as a great movement in the history of the sport. Associated with New York / San Francisco Giants for about two decades, the former center fielder with record Major League Football putouts, features in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Birthdate: 13th January

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: New York, New York, United States

Died: May 25, 2007

Charles Nelson Reilly was an American actor, director, comedian, and drama teacher. He was best known for his work on the television panel game show Match Game where he was a regular panelist between 1973 and 1991. He was also known for voicing popular animated characters like Humpty Dumpty, Mr. Toad, and Dirty Bubble.

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Larry Hagman

(Actor, Director and Producer Known for His Role as ‘J. R. Ewing’ in the TV Soap Opera ‘Dallas’)

Birthdate: 21st September

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Fort Worth, Texas, United States

Died: November 23, 2012

Larry Hagman, son of actor Mary Martin, is best remembered as astronaut Tony Nelson from the iconic series I Dream of Jeannie and as oil baron J.R. Ewing from the long-running soap Dallas. He had also delivered several guest performances and dabbled in direction and production, before dying of leukemia.

Birthdate: 18th February

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Lorain, Ohio

Died: August 5, 2019

Author, editor, and Princeton professor Toni Morrison is best remembered for her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Beloved, part of a trilogy. Some of her other notable works include The Bluest Eye and Song of Solomon. She received the 1993 Nobel Prize in Literature. She also wrote several children’s books and plays.

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Jerry Van Dyke

(Actor)

Birthdate: 27th July

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Danville, Illinois, USA

Died: January 5, 2018

George Jones

(Country Singer Best Known for His Song ‘He Stopped Loving Her Today')

Birthdate: 12th September

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Saratoga, Texas, United States

Died: April 26, 2013

George Jones was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. Renowned for his distinctive voice and phrasing, George Jones was widely regarded as the greatest living country singer during the last 20 years of his life. Jones is also remembered for staying painstakingly loyal to country music throughout his life. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1992.

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Della Reese

(Known for Her 1959 Hit Single 'Don't You Know?' and Her Role in the TV Series 'Touched by an Angel')

Birthdate: 6th July

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Black Bottom, Detroit, United States

Died: November 19, 2017

Jazz and gospel singer and actor Della Reese, who was also an ordained minister, gained fame with tracks such as Don't You Know? and Some of her best-known films were Harlem Nights and A Thin Line Between Love and Hate. She played Tess in the series Touched by an Angel.

Dan Rather

(Journalist and News Anchor of the ‘CBS Evening News’)

Birthdate: 31st October

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Wharton, Texas, United States

Dan Rather shot to fame when he saved thousands of people during Hurricane Carla through the first radar weather report. Subsequently, he had a 24-year stint on CBS Evening News. He was fired following the Killian documents controversy and then joined AXS TV, hosting shows such as Dan Rather Reports.

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Birthdate: 30th August

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Denver, Colorado

Died: December 27, 1982

Jack Swigert was an American astronaut who flew to the moon and spent nearly six days in space. He was an engineer who also held a masters degree in business administration. He was involved in the infamous Apollo 15 postal covers incident. He ventured into politics with mixed fortunes. He was elected to the US Congress but died before being sworn in.

Ian Holm

(British Actor Best Known for His Role in the Film 'Chariots on Fire')

Birthdate: 12th September

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Goodmayes, Essex, England

Died: June 19, 2020

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Leslie Caron

(Actress & Dancer Known for Her Films: 'Lili' and 'The L-Shaped Room')

Birthdate: 1st July

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Boulogne-sur-Seine, Paris, France

French-American actor Leslie Caron is best known for her BAFTA-winning roles in The L-Shaped Room and Lili. She has also won a Golden Globe and an Emmy. A seasoned actor, she began her career as a ballerina. She has also been a jury member at various international film festivals.

Martin Milner

(Best Known for His Roles in the TV Series ‘Route 66’ and ‘Adam-12’)

Birthdate: 28th December

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States

Died: September 6, 2015

Martin Milner is best remembered for his roles as Tod Stiles in Route 66 and Officer Pete Malloy in Adam-12. Fans also loved him as Karl Robinson in The Swiss Family Robinson. He was a polio survivor and has begun acting at local children’s theater at the age of 9.

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Diana Dors

(English Actress and a 'Sex Symbol' of the Mid 20th Century)

Birthdate: 23rd October

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Swindon, Wiltshire, England

Died: May 4, 1984

Diana Dors was an English singer and actress who became renowned as one of the most famous sex symbols of her generation in the UK. She achieved stardom, first as a blonde bombshell—who made headlines for organizing lavish parties—and later as a regular chat-show guest. Diana Dors’ life and career inspired a 1999 TV biographical film titled The Blonde Bombshell.

Mike Nichols

(Director Best Known for His Works 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?' and 'The Graduate')

Birthdate: 6th November

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Berlin, Germany

Died: November 19, 2014

Mike Nichols started as a comedian with the troupe The Compass Players and then performed as part of the Grammy-winning duo Nichols and May. Nichols then delivered Tony-winning directorial stage ventures such as Luv and Death of a Salesman and won the Academy Award for his direction in The Graduate.

Birthdate: 1st February

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Butka

Died: April 23, 2007

Boris Yeltsin served as the first president of Russia, from 1990 to 1999. He contributed to the dissolution of the Soviet Union. His regime was marked by capitalism, monopoly, inflation, and corruption. He introduced a modified constitution that increased the presidential powers. He later abruptly announced his resignation on TV.

Olympia Dukakis

(Best Known for Her Role as ‘Rose Castorini’ in the Film ‘Moonstruck’)

Birthdate: 20th June

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Lowell, Massachusetts, United States

Died: May 1, 2021

Olympia Dukakis gained recognition for her Obie Award-winning performance in the play Man Equals Man. She was also seen as Rose Castorini in Moonstruck, a role that earned her an Academy Award and a Golden Globe. Fans also loved her in the TV film Lucky Day and the miniseries Sinatra.

Barbara Bain

(Best Known for Her Role as ‘Cinnamon Carter’ in TV Series ‘Mission: Impossible’)

Birthdate: 13th September

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States

Barbara Bain is an American actress best known for playing Cinnamon Carter in the popular TV series Mission: Impossible, for which she received a Golden Globe Award nomination and three Primetime Emmy Awards. For her contribution to the American film and TV industry, Barbara Bain was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on April 28, 2016.

Roger Penrose

(English Mathematician, Mathematical Physicist and Winner of the 2020 Nobel Prize for Physics)

Birthdate: 8th August

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Colchester, England

Roger Penrose’s contribution to the research related to the black hole and general relativity earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2020. The Emeritus Rouse Ball Professor of Mathematics at Oxford, Roger is also a fellow of Wadham College, St John's College of Cambridge, and University College London.

David Janssen

(Best Known for His Role as ‘Richard Kimble’ in the TV Series ‘The Fugitive’)

Birthdate: 27th March

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Naponee, Nebraska, United States

Died: February 13, 1980

David Janssen is best known for his portrayal of Richard Kimble in the series The Fugitive. He also played titular roles in Richard Diamond, Private Detective; O'Hara, U.S. Treasury; and Harry O. He made it to TV Guide’s list of the 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time.

Marla Gibbs

(Actress)

Birthdate: 14th June

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA

Gavin MacLeod

(Actor)

Birthdate: 28th February

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Mount Kisco, New York, United States

Anita Ekberg

(Swedish Actress Best Known for Her Role as ‘Sylvia’ in the Film ‘La Dolce Vita’)

Birthdate: 29th September

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Malmö Municipality, Sweden

Died: January 11, 2015

Swedish actress Anita Ekberg is best known for her role in the comedy-drama film La Dolce Vita. She worked primarily in Italy and later became a citizen of the country. She began modeling as a teenager and eventually entered films as well. Beautiful and voluptuous, she became a popular name within a few years.

Birthdate: 2nd March

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Richmond, Virginia, United States

Died: March 14, 2018

Dominic Chianese

(Best Known for His Role as ‘Corrado "Junior" Soprano’ in the TV Series ‘The Sopranos’)

Birthdate: 24th February

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: The Bronx, New York, United States

Dominic Chianese is best known for his Emmy-nominated role of Corrado "Junior" Soprano in The Sopranos. Fans also loved him as Johnny Ola in The Godfather Part II and as Leander Cephas Whitlock in the series Boardwalk Empire. He has also received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

Philip Baker Hall

(Actor)

Birthdate: 10th September

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Toledo, Ohio, USA

Mitzi Gaynor

(American actress)

Birthdate: 4th September

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States

Birthdate: 28th February

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Emporia, Kansas, United States

Died: February 7, 2015

Birthdate: 5th January

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Rogers, Texas, United States

Died: December 1, 1989

Birthdate: 7th April

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois

Economist and political activist Daniel Ellsberg has also served as a U.S. military analyst and worked for RAND Corporation. He made headlines after releasing the Pentagon Papers to leading newspapers such as The New York Times. However, the charges of theft and conspiracy levelled against him were later dismissed.

Tom Laughlin

(Actor)

Birthdate: 10th August

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

Died: December 12, 2013

Bill Walsh

(Former American football coach of the San Francisco 49ers in the 1980s who popularized spread-passing in the West Coast Offense)

Birthdate: 30th November

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States

Died: July 30, 2007