Discover the most famous people born in 1936. The list includes people like Pope Francis, John McCain, David Carradine, Burt Reynolds, Wilt Chamberlain and many more. This list of celebrities is loosely sorted by popularity. People featured on this list, include political leaders, novelists, essayists and poets born in 1936. This list includes people from United States, United Kingdom, Canada & Italy and many more countries.

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Birthdate: 21st August

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Died: October 12, 1999

One of the greatest basketball players of all time, Wilt Chamberlain created numerous records and won two championships during his fourteen years career. The legendary player, first drafted by Philadelphia Warriors, later played for the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers. After retirement, he ventured into business, played volleyball, appeared in commercials and movie and even published his autobiography.

 2 

Burt Reynolds

(American Actor, Considered An Icon of American Popular Culture During the 1970s & 1980s)

Birthdate: 11th February

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Lansing, Michigan, United States

Died: September 6, 2018

Called a sex symbol, Burt Reynolds was one of the most charismatic actors to rule the silver screen. The star of movies like The Longest Yard, Boogie Nights and Best Friends was a massive box-office attraction from 1978 to 1982, with Smokey and the Bandit being his biggest hits. However, he really did not get thumbs up from movie critics.

 3 

Buddy Holly

(Singer-Songwriter & Pioneer in Mid 1950's Rock and Roll)

Birthdate: 7th September

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Lubbock, Texas, United States

Died: February 3, 1959

Musician and singer-songwriter Buddy Holly was a central figure of mid-1950s rock and roll. Born to a musical family, he learned to sing and play the guitar as a child. He began his career as a teenager and found much success within a short period. Sadly, he died in an aircraft crash when he was just 22 years old.

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Birthdate: 31st October

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Forest Hills, New York, United States

Died: July 1, 1991

One of the most popular actors of his generation, Michael Landon appeared on the cover of TV Guide on 22 occasions, the most for an actor and second only to Lucille Ball. Also a singer and director, Landon had a major impact on the film industry, so much so that a community building was named after him following his demise.

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 5 

Mary Tyler Moore

(Known for Her Role in TV Sitcoms ‘The Dick Van Dyke Show’ and 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show')

Birthdate: 29th December

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Brooklyn Heights, New York, United States

Died: January 25, 2017

Actress and producer, Mary Tyler Moore, was well known for appearing in popular sitcoms in the 1960s and 1970s. She also appeared in a few movies and was nominated for an Academy Award. She advocated for animal rights and diabetes prevention and was the international chairman of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Birthdate: 24th September

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Greenville, Mississippi, United States

Died: May 16, 1990

Jim Henson was an American animator, puppeteer, cartoonist, inventor, actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, and composer. He is credited with creating The Muppets, an ensemble cast of puppet characters, for which he achieved worldwide popularity. He is also credited with co-founding Muppets, Inc. in 1958, which eventually became The Jim Henson Company. In 2011, Jim Henson was named a Disney Legend.

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Birthdate: 10th April

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Austin, Minnesota, United States

Died: December 28, 2021

Birthdate: 18th August

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Santa Monica, California, United States

Charles Robert Redford Jr. is a retired actor, activist, and director. He is credited with founding the Sundance Film Festival and was named in Time magazine's list of 100 most influential people in the world in 2014. For his contributions to arts, Charles Robert Redford Jr. was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.

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Birthdate: 22nd April

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Billstown, Arkansas, United States

Died: August 8, 2017

Glen Campbell was an American TV host, actor, singer-songwriter, and guitarist. Regarded as one of the most successful musicians ever, Campbell sold more than 45 million records, which included a double-platinum album, four platinum albums, and 12 gold albums, in a career spanning 50 years. In 2014, he became the subject of a documentary titled Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me.

Birthdate: 22nd June

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Brownsville, Texas, United States

Kris Kristofferson is a popular singer-songwriter and actor. Over the years, Kris has played a major role in the success of many famous singers, having contributed to their musical albums as a songwriter. For his achievements in the field of music, Kris Kristofferson was made a Country Music Hall of Fame inductee in 2004.

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 11 

Roy Orbison

(Known as 'The Caruso of Rock' & Famous for Songs 'Only the Lonely' and 'Running Scared')

Birthdate: 23rd April

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Vernon, Texas, United States

Died: December 6, 1988

Six-time Grammy-winner Texan rocker Roy Orbison gained fame with songs such as Oh, Pretty Woman and Drove All Night. His shyness and stage fright made him dye his hair black and wear sunglasses. The "Caruso of Rock" was part of the Traveling Wilburys, along with legends such as Bob Dylan.

 12 

Dennis Hopper

(Actor, Filmmaker and Photographer Best Known for His Films: ‘Easy Rider’, ‘Blue Velvet’ and ‘The Last Movie’)

Birthdate: 17th May

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Dodge City, Kansas, United States

Died: May 29, 2010

Dennis Hopper was an American actor, photographer, and filmmaker. His directorial film debut Easy Rider glorified the counterculture of the 1960s and became the cinematic symbol of counterculture, inspiring several youngsters. Also a photographer, Hopper’s photographs of the 1963 March on Washington were published. Hopper is also credited with influencing actress Amber Tamblyn whose father was one of his friends.

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 13 

Jim Brown

(Football Player)

Birthdate: 17th February

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: St. Simons, Georgia, United States

Birthdate: 8th December

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States

Died: June 3, 2009

The quintessential American on-screen martial artist, David Carradine specialized in playing martial arts roles in an illustrious acting career that spanned more than 60 years. Regarded as the bad boy of Hollywood, Carradine was arrested several times throughout his life for offenses involving substance abuse. He died in Bangkok, Thailand due to accidental autoerotic asphyxiation at the age of 72.

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 15 

Ursula Andress

(Swis Actress Best Known for Her Role of Bond Girl 'Honey Ryder' in the Film 'Dr.No')

Birthdate: 19th March

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Ostermundigen, Switzerland

Swiss actress, yesteryear model and sex symbol Ursula Andress gained attention playing Honey Ryder, widely regarded as the first Bond girl, in the first James Bond film titled Dr. No. In the ensuing years, she bolstered her career starring in films like The Southern Star, Clash of the Titans, and particularly as Vesper Lynd in spy parody film Casino Royale.    

 16 

Bobby Darin

(Pop vocalist who released the hits "Mack the Knife," "Dream Lover," and "Beyond the Sea.")

Birthdate: 14th May

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: East Harlem, New York, United States

Died: December 20, 1973

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Birthdate: 1st August

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Oran, Algeria

Died: June 1, 2008

Yves Saint Laurent was a French fashion designer who founded his eponymous fashion label in 1961. Widely regarded as one of the 20th century's most popular and influential fashion designers, Saint Laurent is credited with helping women all over the world find confidence by looking both elegant and comfortable at the same time. His life and career inspired many films.

Birthdate: 9th May

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Salford, Lancashire, England

Died: February 7, 2019

Albert Finney was an English actor known for his contribution across all the three major acting mediums: films, television and theatre. A recipient of Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, BAFTA, and Emmy awards, Albert Finney also received nominations for prestigious awards, such as the Academy Award and Tony Award. 

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 19 

Alan Alda

(Actor, Director and Screenwriter Best Known for His Role in the TV Series 'M*A*S*H')

Birthdate: 28th January

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: New York, United States

Alan Alda is best known for his Emmy-winning roles of Hawkeye in M*A*S*H and Arnold Vinick in The West Wing. Fans also loved him in The Aviator. He has a keen interest in cosmology, serves on the boards of various science and technology institutes, and has received several honorary degrees.

 20 

Charlie Daniels

(Singer-Songwriter Best Known for His Number-One Country Hit ‘The Devil Went Down to Georgia’)

Birthdate: 28th October

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Wilmington, North Carolina, United States

Died: July 6, 2020

Singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, Charlie Daniels, is remembered for his contributions to Southern rock, country, and bluegrass music. He had an extensive career that spanned over half a century and was inducted into the Cheyenne Frontier Days Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame. He had also appeared in a few films.

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 21 

Bruce Dern

(Actor)

Birthdate: 4th June

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States

 22 

Jill Ireland

(Actress and Singer Who Has Appeared in Several Films Director by Her Husband Charles Bronson)

Birthdate: 24th April

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: London, England

Died: May 18, 1990

Jill Ireland was an English singer and actress. She is best known for working with her husband Charles Bronson in 15 films. After being diagnosed with breast cancer, Ireland started writing books chronicling her fight with cancer. She also started working with the American Cancer Society. Her fight with cancer inspired the movie Reason for Living: The Jill Ireland Story.

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 23 

Hector Elizondo

(Known for His Roles in Series: ‘Chicago Hope’, ‘Last Man Standing’ and Films: 'Pretty Woman', 'The Princess Diaries')

Birthdate: 22nd December

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: New York, New York, United States

Hector Elizondo is best known for his Emmy-winning role of Phillip Watters in Chicago Hope. He also earned a Golden Globe nomination for his supporting role in Pretty Woman and won an Obie Award for the play Steambath. He also voiced Bane in the film Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman.

 24 

Dean Stockwell

(Actor)

Birthdate: 5th March

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States

Died: November 7, 2021

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Birthdate: 26th September

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Bizana, Eastern Cape

Died: April 2, 2018

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela had first met legendary anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela at a bus stop when she was barely 22. They ended up getting married the following year. Winnie’s journey was marred by bans and harassment by the South African government, but the determined social worker revolutionized South African politics.

 26 

Antonin Scalia

(Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (1986 - 2016))

Birthdate: 11th March

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Trenton, New Jersey, United States

Died: February 13, 2016

Scalia played an important role as an associate justice of the US Supreme Court for 30 years. Not only was he regarded as one of the most important justices in the history of the court, but he was also considered one of the most influential jurists of the 20th century. He was posthumously honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

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Birthdate: 27th January

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States

Died: September 2, 2001

Troy Donahue was an American actor and singer. During the 1950s and 1960s, Donahue became known as a popular sex symbol. He was also one of the most bankable stars during the early-1960s and was ranked the 20th most popular American star in 1963. The creation of Troy McClure, a character from The Simpsons, was inspired by Troy Donahue.

 28 

Robert Downey Sr.

(Known for Having Written and Directed the 1969 Underground Film ‘Putney Swope’)

Birthdate: 24th June

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: New York, New York, United States

Died: July 7, 2021

Robert Downey Sr. was an American actor and filmmaker. He is best remembered for making satirical films, such as Putney Swope that influenced and inspired the Counterculture of the 1960s. He is also credited with shaping the film career of his son Robert John Downey Jr.

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 29 

John Saxon

(Known for His Roles in Westerns and Horror Films)

Birthdate: 5th August

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States

Died: July 25, 2020

American actor and martial artist, John Saxon was best known for the film Enter the Dragon where he co-starred with the legendary Bruce Lee. The famous character actor of Western and horror films, in his extensive career spanning six decades, worked in more than 200 films and television shows including three Nightmare on Elm Street movies, The Appaloosa and Dynasty.

 30 

Dick Cavett

(Comedian & Former Talk Show Host Notable for His Conversational Style and In-depth Discussions)

Birthdate: 19th November

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Gibbon, Nebraska, United States

Dick Cavett is an American comedian, television personality, and former talk show host. For five decades, Cavett made frequent appearances on the United State's nationally broadcast television. In 2020, Stephen Colbert on his TV show, Late Show with Stephen Colbert, acknowledged that Dick Cavett had served as a major influence due to his conversational style. 

Birthdate: 20th January

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Sandringham, Norfolk, England

Died: June 3, 2004

Frances Ruth Shand Kydd was the mother of Diana, Princess of Wales. She apparently had a tiff with Diana over an interview with Hello! magazine and was not on speaking terms with her at the time of her death. Frances later spent most of her time in Catholic charitable initiatives.

 32 

Louis Gossett Jr.

(Actor)

Birthdate: 27th May

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

 33 

Mary Travers

(Singer-Songwriter and Member of the Folk Music Group ‘Peter, Paul and Mary’)

Birthdate: 9th November

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Louisville, Kentucky, United States

Died: September 16, 2009

Mary Travers was an American singer and songwriter. She was part of Peter, Paul and Mary, one of the most successful and popular folk music groups of the 1960s. Apart from working with the music group, Travers released five solo albums. In 1999, she was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame as part of the group.

Birthdate: 24th October

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Lewisham

Bill Wyman is known as the bassist for the iconic band The Rolling Stones. He later formed the band Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings. He is a skilled photographer who has exhibited his work. He has also written several books, including one on archaeology. He has also patented a metal detector.

 35 

Nancy Dow

(American Actress and Mother of Actress Jennifer Aniston)

Birthdate: 22nd July

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Connecticut, United States

Died: May 25, 2016

Nancy Dow was an American actress known for appearing in TV series like The Beverly Hillbillies and The Wild Wild West. She got married to actor John Aniston in 1965 and gave birth to their daughter Jennifer Aniston in 1969. Dow's relationship with Jennifer was estranged for nine years before reconciling with her after the latter's divorce from Brad Pitt.

 36 

Roger Miller

(Singer-songwriter, Musician)

Birthdate: 2nd January

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Fort Worth, Texas, United States

Died: October 25, 1992

 37 

David Suzuki

(Canadian Academic, Environmental Activist and Host of TV Program ‘The Nature of Things’)

Birthdate: 24th March

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Vancouver, Canada

Best known for the CBC show The Nature of Things, Canadian environmental activist David Suzuki has also been a genetics and zoology professor. The UN Environment Programme Medal winner has been a major force against global warming and has written several books, such as An Introduction to Genetic Analysis.

 38 

Buddy Guy

(American Blues Musician Who Was a Prolific Performer from 1950s Until Well Into 21st Century)

Birthdate: 30th July

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Lettsworth, Louisiana, United States

 39 

Don Cornelius

(Television show host)

Birthdate: 27th September

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA

Died: February 1, 2012

 40 

John McCain

(Former United States Senator from Arizona (1987 - 2018))

Birthdate: 29th August

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Coco Solo, Panama

Died: August 25, 2018

John McCain served as a US Senator for Arizona from 1987 until his death in 2018. Previously he was a US naval officer and is hailed as a war hero for his heroics during the Vietnam War. He was a supporter of LGBT rights, gun regulations and campaign finance reform. He was a Republican nominee for the 2008 presidential election but lost to Barack Obama.

 41 

Anthony Kennedy

(Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States)

Birthdate: 23rd July

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Sacramento, California, United States

Anthony Kennedy has served as the judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 1975 to 1988 and as the associate justice of the Supreme Court of the U.S. from 1988 to 2018. Kennedy has been associated with Boumediene v. Bush and various gay rights cases.

 42 

Walter Koenig

(Actor who starred in the original Stark Trek TV series)

Birthdate: 14th September

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States

 43 

Diana Hyland

(Best Known for Her Role as ‘Mickey Lubitch’ in the Film ‘The Boy in the Plastic Bubble’)

Birthdate: 25th January

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Cleveland Heights, Ohio, United States

Died: March 27, 1977

Diana Hyland is best remembered as Heavenly Finley from the Broadway production of Tennessee Williams' Sweet Bird of Youth. She had also appeared in series such as The Twilight Zone and in films such as The Chase. She won a posthumous Emmy for The Boy in the Plastic Bubble.

 44 

Juliet Prowse

(Film, Stage and Television Actress Who Had a Four-Decade Long Career)

Birthdate: 25th September

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Died: September 14, 1996

Juliet Prowse was an actress and dancer whose stage, film, and TV career spanned 40 years. She gained prominence during the 1960s by appearing in films like Can-Can and G.I. Blues, which accentuated her dancing skills and her attractive legs. Towards the end of her career, Juliet Prowse hosted PBS' Championship Ballroom Dance Competition. 

Birthdate: 28th March

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Busdongo de Arbás, Spain

Former chairman and founder of Inditex fashion group, Amancio Ortega Gaona is renowned for it's chain Zara. He set the ball rolling for the fast fashion movement in the mid-70s. He first ventured into retail in his early teens, 

 46 

James Stacy

(American Film and Television Actor Best Known for His Role in the TV Series ‘Lancer’)

Birthdate: 23rd December

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States

Died: September 9, 2016

James Stacy was an American actor remembered for his portrayal of Johnny Madrid Lancer in the CBS Western series, Lancer. In 1973, he lost his left arm and leg when his motorcycle was hit by a drunk driver. He made a comeback in 1975, earning a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for playing a double-amputee veteran in the movie Just a Little Inconvenience.

 47 

Glenda Jackson

(English Actress and Politician Known for Her for Role as ‘Gudrun Brangwen’ in the Film ‘Women in Love’)

Birthdate: 9th May

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Birkenhead, England

Died: June 15, 2023

Glenda Jackson is best known for her Academy Award-winning roles in the films Women in Love and A Touch of Class. She has also won two Emmys for playing Elizabeth I in the TV series Elizabeth R and a Tony for her role in the play Three Tall Women.

 48 

Pope Francis

(Pope, Head of the Catholic church (Since 2013))

Birthdate: 17th December

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Flores, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Pope Francis is the sovereign of the Vatican City and head of the Catholic Church. He is the first Jesuit pope and first non-European pope since Pope Gregory III. Often praised for having a comparatively less formal approach, Pope Francis is popular for his humility, international visibility, and concern for the poor.

Birthdate: 25th December

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Belgravia, London, United Kingdom

 50 

Joe Don Baker

(Best Known for His Role as a Mafia Hitman in the Film ‘Charley Varrick’)

Birthdate: 12th February

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Groesbeck, Texas, United States

Joe Don Baker is an American actor known for playing action-packed roles in films like Guns of the Magnificent Seven, Wild Rovers, Charley Varrick, and Walking Tall. For his performance in the TV  series Edge of Darkness, Baker received a British Academy Television Award nomination. He has also played interesting roles in a couple of James Bond films.