Discover the most famous people born in 1938. The list includes people like John Eleuthère du Pont, Jon Voight, Natalie Wood, Kenny Rogers, Ted Turner and many more. This list of celebrities is loosely sorted by popularity. People featured on this list, include political leaders, lawyers, composers and journalists born in 1938. This list includes people from United States, United Kingdom, India & France and many more countries.

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Birthdate: 20th July

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: San Francisco, California, United States

Died: November 29, 1981

Amongst the top child artists of her generation, Natalie Wood garnered fame at the age of eight with the movie Miracle on 34th Street. Later, as an adult, she successfully established herself as a talented and sought after actress with movies like Splendor in the Grass and West Side Story. Her vibrant life came to an end after she died of drowning.

Birthdate: 22nd October

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Stamford, Connecticut, United States

Christopher Lloyd's popularity as an actor increased after he played Dr. Brown in one of the most popular film trilogies of all time - Back to the Future. The trilogy, which revolves around a time travel device, was responsible for stirring the imagination of many. With four failed marriages, Christopher might've hoped for a time machine in real life!

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Kenny Rogers

(Best-Selling Country Music Artists of All Time)

Birthdate: 21st August

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Houston, Texas, United States

Died: March 20, 2020

Kenny Rogers was an American singer-songwriter. He is among the best-selling musicians of all-time list, having sold over 100 million records. His songs and albums remain influential among country music lovers. A multi-talented personality, Rogers was also successful as an actor and entrepreneur; he was the co-founder of the Kenny Rogers Roasters chain of restaurants.

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Birthdate: 24th February

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Portland

Business tycoon Phil Knight co-founded Nike, Inc. and also served as its chairman and CEO. Forbes named him the world’s 26th-richest person in 2020. He is a qualified accountant and once owned a running team. He has launched a non-profit and owns a stop-motion production company, too.

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Birthdate: 9th July

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States

Died: April 15, 2020

Brian Dennehy was a prolific stage actor with two Tony Awards under his belt. He is credited with exploring playwright Eugene O'Neill’s works and bringing his popular characters to life at Chicago's Goodman Theatre. Also an acclaimed television and film actor, Brian Dennehy appeared in more than 180 films and several TV series.

 6 

Evel Knievel

(American Stunt Performer Known for His Motorcycle Kumps)

Birthdate: 17th October

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Butte, Montana, United States

Died: November 30, 2007

Evel Knievel was an entertainer and stunt performer. He attempted more than 75 ramp-to-ramp motorcycle jumps in his career, a feat that gained him much popularity. In 1999, he was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame. He was known to be a man of values and actively preached anti-drug messages to youngsters. He also campaigned for motorcycle helmet safety. 

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Birthdate: 18th October

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Reno, Nevada, United States

Died: December 30, 2020

Actress Dawn Wells is best remembered for her role as Mary Ann Summers in the CBS sitcom Gilligan's Island. She studied theater arts and design at the University of Washington and made her TV debut soon after. Venturing into films as well, she went on to build a successful acting career. Besides acting, she was involved in many charitable endeavors.

 8 

Jerry West

(American Basketball Executive and Former Player)

Birthdate: 28th May

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Chelyan, West Virginia, United States

Basketball player Jerry West, also known as Mr. Clutch, for his ability to snatch games in clutch situations, is known for his stint with the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA. He was part of the US squads that won an Olympic gold in 1960 and a Pan American Games gold in 1959.

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Diana Rigg

(British Actress Known for Her Roles in 'The Avengers', 'Game of Thrones', 'Medea')

Birthdate: 20th July

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Doncaster, West Riding of Yorkshire, England

Died: September 10, 2020

English actress Diana Rigg had a wide-ranging career in films, television and theatre that spanned over six decades. Memorable roles of Diana include Emma Peel in television series The Avengers, which made her a sex-symbol; Mrs. Danvers in television drama Rebecca that won her an Emmy Award; and title role in the play Medea that won her a Tony Award.

Birthdate: 17th November

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Orillia

Canadian folk-rock sensation Gordon Meredith Lightfoot Jr. is best known for his chart-topping tracks such as If You Could Read My Mind and Ribbon of Darkness. He set the tone for the folk-pop genre in the 1960s and 1970s. The 16-time Juno-winner has earned the Governor General's Performing Arts Award.

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Etta James

(Singer-Songwriter Know for Hits Such as "The Wallflower", "At Last", "Tell Mama")

Birthdate: 25th January

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States

Died: January 20, 2012

Etta James was an American singer whose powerful, deep voice bridged the gap between rock and roll and rhythm and blues. Her ability to perform in various genres earned her a spot in Rolling Stone magazine's 100 Greatest Singers of All Time list. Her work has influenced several musicians, including Christina Aguilera, Diana Ross, Janis Joplin, Adele, and Rita Ora.

 12 

Tommy Chong

(Known for His Role in TV Series ‘That '70s Show’ and Part of the Comedy Duo 'Cheech & Chong')

Birthdate: 24th May

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Edmonton, Canada

Tommy Chong is best known for his marijuana-themed comedy albums and films of the Cheech & Chong series, in collaboration with Cheech Marin. He was seen as Leo on That '70s Show. He supports legalization of cannabis and is a NORML board member. He has faced many legal issues, too.

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Jon Voight

(Best Known for His Performance in the Films: 'Midnight Cowboy', 'Coming Home' and 'The Champ')

Birthdate: 29th December

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Yonkers, New York, United States

A veteran actor who has been active in Hollywood for almost six decades, Jon Voight is the recipient of one Academy Award and four Golden Globe Awards. Coming to prominence in the late 1960s with several critically acclaimed roles, he went through a lean phase before resurrecting his career. He was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2019.

Birthdate: 4th July

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Slab Fork, West Virginia, U.S.

Died: March 30, 2020

Soul and R&B legend Bill Withers is best remembered for hits such as Ain't No Sunshine and Lean on Me. The three-time Grammy Award-winner also inspired the documentary Still Bill. A Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Bill moved on to other jobs after his 15-year music career. 

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Birthdate: 29th August

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States

Elliott Gould is best known for his Academy Award-nominated role in Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice and his perfomances in Robert Altman films such as M*A*S*H, Nashville, and The Long Goodbye. Fans also loved him as Jack Geller in Friends and as Reuben Tishkoff in the Ocean's franchise.

Birthdate: 13th February

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Wimbledon, London, England

Died: May 2, 1999

Oliver Reed was an English actor who was considered one of the most bankable actors at the peak of his career. Characterized by his hellraiser lifestyle and macho image, Reed's problem with alcohol addiction was highly publicized and overshadowed his acting achievements. He often got into trouble because of his drinking habit and was once arrested for disturbing the peace.

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Birthdate: 8th August

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States

Connie Stevens is best known for her roles in films such as Rock-A-Bye Baby and The Party Crashers. She also gained fame with her performance as "Cricket" Blake in the series Hawaiian Eye and released Billboard-charting singles such as Sixteen Reasons. She was the secretary-treasurer of the Screen Actors Guild.

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Sherman Hemsley

(Actor)

Birthdate: 1st February

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Died: July 24, 2012

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 19 

Fela Kuti

(Multi-Instrumentalist & the Creator of ‘Afro-beat’, a Genre that Fuses West African Music with American Funk & Jazz)

Birthdate: 15th October

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Abeokuta, Nigeria

Died: August 2, 1997

Political activist and Afrobeat inventor Fela Kuti initially performed with his band Koola Lobitos and later renamed it Nigeria '70. He was inspired by the Black Power movement, which also gradually transformed his musical style. He married 27 women in 1978, to mark the anniversary of the Kalakuta Republic attack.

 20 

Oscar Robertson

(Former Basketball player who played point guard and was a 12-time All-Star)

Birthdate: 24th November

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Charlotte, Tennessee, United States

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Birthdate: 8th April

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Kumasi, Ghana

Died: August 18, 2018

Ghanaian diplomat Kofi Annan served as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1997 to 2006. He was the founder and chairman of the Kofi Annan Foundation and a co-recipient of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize. During his stint with the UN, he launched the UN Global Compact and worked to combat HIV/AIDS. 

 22 

Rudolf Nureyev

(Choreographer & One of the Greatest Male Ballet Dancers of His Generation)

Birthdate: 17th March

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Irkutsk, Russia

Died: January 6, 1993

Born into a Tatar Muslim family, Rudolf Nureyev grew up to gain fans both for his exceptional ballet skills and for his sharp cheek bones. One of the greatest male ballet dancers ever, he gained fame performing with stars such as Margot Fonteynhe. A closeted homosexual, he died of AIDS.

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Jean Seberg

(Known for Her Performance in the French Film ‘Breathless’)

Birthdate: 13th November

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Marshalltown, Iowa, United States

Died: August 30, 1979

Jean Seberg, a French New Wave cinema heroine, had also appeared in many Hollywood films. Some of her notable films were Breathless, Macho Callahan, and Gang War in Naples. The FBI was blamed for causing her suicide by spreading derogatory rumors due to her support for the Black Panther Party.

Birthdate: 14th October

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Tehran, Iran

Farah Pahlavi was the Shahbanu of Iran from 1961 to 1979, as the wife of Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Though she was not allowed to hold a political role, she worked for many charities and helped found Iran's first American-style university. She has continued her involvement in charity work even after her husband’s death in 1980. 

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 25 

Terence Stamp

(Best Known for His Films: ‘The Collector’, ‘Billy Budd’ and ‘The Limey’)

Birthdate: 22nd July

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Stepney, London, England,

Terence Stamp is best known for his Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe-winning performance in the titular role in Billy Budd, his debut movie. He later won hearts with his roles in films such as The Collector and the Superman franchise. He has also narrated the documentary Jazz Britannia for BBC.

 26 

Derek Jacobi

(Actor who has enjoyed a successful and distinguished stage career, appearing in various stage productions of William Shakespeare)

Birthdate: 22nd October

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Leytonstone, London, United Kingdom

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Rod Laver

(Australian Former World No. 1 Tennis Player)

Birthdate: 9th August

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Rockhampton, Australia

Australian former tennis player Rod Laver is widely regarded to be one of the greatest tennis players of all time. He was ranked world No. 1 in nine different years. He holds 200 singles titles--the most in tennis history. He excelled on a variety of court surfaces: grass, clay, hard, carpet, and wood/parquet. The Laver Cup Tournament is named after him.

 28 

Wolfman Jack

(Radio personality, Disc jockey)

Birthdate: 21st January

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States

Died: July 1, 1995

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Peter Jennings

(One of the Most Prominent Television Journalists and the Anchor of 'ABC World News Tonight’)

Birthdate: 29th July

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Toronto, Canada

Died: August 7, 2005

Canadian-American journalist Peter Jennings is best remembered for his stint on ABC World News Tonight, as its sole anchor. A high-school drop-out, Jennings became one of the U.S.’s Big Three news anchors, along with Tom Brokaw and Dan Rather. He was known for his meticulous coverage of breaking news stories.

 30 

Romy Schneider

(Best Known for Her Role as ‘Empress Elisabeth’ in the Romantic Biopic ‘Sissi’)

Birthdate: 23rd September

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Vienna, Austria

Died: May 29, 1982

German-French actor Romy Schneider began her career with the Heimatfilm genre of films as a teenager. She appeared as Empress Elisabeth of Austria in the Austrian Sissi trilogy and in Ludwig. She is also remembered for her César Award-winning roles in Une histoire simple and L'important c'est d'aimer.

 31 

Stella Stevens

(American Actress Known for Her Films: ‘Girls! Girls! Girls!’, ‘The Nutty Professor’ & ‘The Courtship of Eddie’s Father’)

Birthdate: 1st October

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Yazoo City, Mississippi, United States

Stella Stevens is an American actress best known for playing important roles in popular films, such as Girls! Girls! Girls! and The Nutty Professor. Renowned for her good looks, Stevens was one of the world's most photographed women during the 1960s. She also appeared in Playboy pictorials and was adjudged Playmate of the Month in January 1960.

Birthdate: 28th April

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Kingston, Jamaica

Died: December 20, 1995

The Kingston-born American actress, who began her career with the New York Shakespearean Festival, acted in a number films and television series and won Primetime Emmy Award for her role in the crime drama Gabriel's Fire. Madge Sinclair was also a voice artist in the famous animated film The Lion King, released a year before she succumbed to leukaemia.

Birthdate: 13th May

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States

Birthdate: 4th March

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: San Antonio, Texas, United States

 35 

Judy Blume

(Writer, novelist, children's writer)

Birthdate: 12th February

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States

Birthdate: 30th November

Birthplace: Newton

The son of a shoe factory owner, mathematician-turned-hedge-fund-manager James Harris Simons studied math at MIT and helped the U.S. break codes during the Vietnam War. He later founded his own hedge fund firm, Renaissance Technologies. He supports autism research and funds Math for America. In 2021, he was America’s 23rd-richest person.

 37 

Eddie Cochran

(guitarist,singer, singer-songwriter, composer)

Birthdate: 3rd October

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Albert Lea

Died: April 17, 1960

 38 

Claudia Cardinale

(Italian Actress Who Acted in Italian, French and English Films in the 1960s and 1970s)

Birthdate: 15th April

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: La Goulette, Tunisia

Claudia Cardinale is a Tunisian-born Italian actress who played important roles in some of the most popular Italian and French movies of the 1960s and 1970s. After achieving immense popularity as an actress in Italy, Cardinale starred in the 1963 American comedy film The Pink Panther, which increased her popularity. Claudia Cardinale was also renowned for her beauty.

 39 

Nico

(Singer Know for Her Song 'The Velvet Underground's' debut album 'The Velvet Underground & Nico')

Birthdate: 16th October

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Cologne, Germany

Died: July 18, 1988

Nico was a German musician, singer, and songwriter. Her work continues to serve as an inspiration to several musicians like Björk, Morrissey, and the English rock band The Cure. In 2017, Susanna Nicchiarelli directed Nico's biographical film titled Nico, 1988. Also an actress, Nico appeared in many films, including Andy Warhol's experimental underground film Chelsea Girls.

Birthdate: 8th January

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Flint, Michigan, United States

Birthdate: 1st January

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Bayonne, New Jersey, United States

Frank Langella is an actor most revered in the American theatre industry where he has won four Tony Awards. He then replicated his success in the film and TV industry, appearing in popular movies and TV series. His memoir, Dropped Names, attracted critical appreciation, with some even calling it a celebration of sluttiness as a noble way of life.

 42 

Liv Ullmann

(One of the Greatest European Actresses of All Time)

Birthdate: 16th December

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan

Norwegian actress-film director Liv Ullmann is counted among the greatest European actresses. She is best-known for her roles in films like The Emigrants and Face to Face, both of which earned her Oscar nomination, and the former won her a Golden Globe She received an Honorary Academy Award. Her second directorial feature-film Faithless was nominated for Palme d'Orin 2000.

 43 

Ben E. King

(Singer, Record producer)

Birthdate: 28th September

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Henderson, North Carolina, United States

Died: April 30, 2015

 44 

J.J. Cale

(Guitarist, Singer Known for songs After Midnight, Cocaine, Clyde, and Call Me the Breeze)

Birthdate: 5th December

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States

Died: July 26, 2013

 45 

Dieter Dengler

(Second Captured U.S. Airman to Escape Enemy Captivity During the Vietnam War)

Birthdate: 22nd May

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Wildberg, Germany

Died: February 7, 2001

Dieter Dengler was a German-born American aviator who served the US Navy during the Vietnam War. He was caught and tortured by the enemies for over six months, after which Dengler escaped from captivity, becoming only the second U.S. airman to escape captivity during the war. The experience was documented by Dieter Dengler in his book, Escape From Laos.

 46 

Hoyt Axton

(Singer-songwriter)

Birthdate: 25th March

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Duncan, Oklahoma, United States

Died: October 26, 1999

 47 

Stephen Breyer

(Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1994 to 2022)

Birthdate: 15th August

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: San Francisco, California, United States

Stephen Breyer is an American lawyer, legal scholar, and jurist. Since August 1994, Breyer has been serving as an associate justice of the US Supreme Court after being nominated by President Bill Clinton in May 1994. He is also credited with writing several influential textbooks while working as a lecturer and law professor at Harvard Law School in the 1960s. 

Birthdate: 2nd November

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Athens, Greece

Birthdate: 29th October

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Monrovia, Liberia

Liberian politician, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, served as the 24th President of Liberia from 2006 to 2018. She was the first elected female head of state in Africa. An alumnus of the Harvard University, she began her political career in the 1970s and rose through the ranks with time. She is the recipient of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize.

 50 

Edda Göring

(Only Child of German Politician Hermann Göring and Actress Emmy Sonnemann)

Birthdate: 2nd June

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Berlin, Germany

Died: December 21, 2018

Edda Göring was the only child of Nazi Party member Hermann Göring and actor Emmy Sonnemann. She grew up amidst luxury and received expensive art as gifts as a child, one of which, a painting of Madonna and Child by Lucas Cranach the Elder, dragged her into legal disputes.