- William Wilberforce
- Max Beerbohm
- Carlo Gambino
- Yasser Arafat
- Kenny Baker
- A. S. Byatt
- Ronee Blakley
- Anne Archer
- Jean Michel Jarre
- Alexander McCall Smith
- Stephen Fry
- Steve Guttenberg
- Marlee Matlin
- Dave Chappelle
- Grey DeLisle
- Rupert Grint
1759
William Wilberforce
William Wilberforce (24 August 1759 – 29 July 1833) was an English politician, philanthropist, and a leader of the movement to abolish the slave trade. Born in Kingston upon Hull, Great Britain. (d. 1833)
1872
Max Beerbohm
Sir Max Beerbohm (24 August 1872 – 20 May 1956) was an English essayist, parodist, and caricaturist. He first became known in the 1890s as a dandy and a humorist. He was the drama critic for the Saturday Review from 1898 until 1910, when he relocated to Rapallo, Italy. In his later years he was popular for his occasional radio broadcasts. Among his best-known works is his only novel, Zuleika Dobson, published in 1911. Born Henry Maximilian Beerbohm in London, England. (d. 1956)
1902
Carlo Gambino
Don Carlo Gambino (August 24, 1902 – October 15, 1976) was an Italian-born American gangster, notable for being boss of the Gambino crime family, which is still named after him. Born Carlo Gambino in Palermo, Sicily, Italy. (d. 1976)
1929
Yasser Arafat
Yasser Arafat (24 August 1929 – 11 November 2004) was a Palestinian leader. He was Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), President of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), and leader of the Fatah political party and former paramilitary group. Born Mohammed Yasser Abdel Rahman Abdel Raouf Arafat al-Qudwa in Cairo, Egypt. (d. 2004)
1934
Kenny Baker
Kenny Baker (born 24 August 1934) is an English actor and musician. He is well known for portraying the character R2-D2 in the popular science-fiction movie franchise Star Wars. Born Kenneth George Baker in Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom.
1936
A. S Byatt
Dame Antonia Susan Duffy, DBE (born 24 August 1936) – known as A. S. Byatt – is an English novelist, poet and Booker Prize winner. Born Antonia Susan Drabble in Sheffield, England.
1945
Ronee Blakley
Ronee Blakley (born August 24, 1945) is an American entertainer. A singer, songwriter, composer, producer and director, she is perhaps best known as an actress. Her most well-known role was the fictional country superstar Barbara Jean in Robert Altman’s 1975 film Nashville, for which she won a National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress and was nominated for an Academy Award. Born Ronee Sue Blakley in Nampa, Idaho.
1947
Anne Archer
Anne Archer (born August 24, 1947) is an American actress. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for the 1987 film Fatal Attraction. Her other film appearances include Patriot Games (1992), and Clear and Present Danger (1994). On stage, she starred as Mrs. Robinson in the West End production of The Graduate. Born in Los Angeles, California.
1948
Jean Michel Jarre
Jean Michel Jarre (born 24 August 1948) is a French composer, performer, and music producer. He is a pioneer in the electronic, ambient, and new-age genres, and known as an organiser of outdoor spectacles of his music featuring lights, laser displays, and fireworks. Born Jean-Michel André Jarre in Lyon, France.
Alexander McCall Smith
Alexander McCall Smith, CBE, FRSE (born 24 August 1948), is a British writer and Emeritus Professor of Medical Law at the University of Edinburgh. In the late 20th century, McCall Smith became a respected expert on medical law and bioethics and served on British and international committees concerned with these issues. He has since become internationally known as a writer of fiction. He is most widely known as the creator of the The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series. Born R Alexander McCall Smith in Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia.
1957
Stephen Fry
Stephen Fry (born 24 August 1957) is an English comedian, actor, writer, presenter and activist. As half of the comic double act Fry and Laurie, he co-wrote and co-starred in A Bit of Fry & Laurie and also took the role of Jeeves in Jeeves and Wooster. Fry’s acting roles include a Golden Globe Award-nominated lead performance in the film Wilde, Melchett in the BBC television series Blackadder, the title character in the television series Kingdom. He is also the long-time host of the BBC television quiz show QI. Born Stephen John Fry in Hampstead, London.
1958
Steve Guttenberg
Steve Guttenberg (born August 24, 1958) is an American actor, author, businessman, producer, and director. He became well known during the 1980s starting with his breakthrough role in 1984’s Police Academy and subsequent starring roles in major Hollywood films, including Cocoon, Three Men and a Baby, and Short Circuit. Born Steven Robert Guttenberg in Brooklyn, New York.
1965
Marlee Matlin
Marlee Matlin (born August 24, 1965) is an American actress. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for Children of a Lesser God (1986), and is both the only deaf performer to win the award. Her work in film and television has resulted in a Golden Globe award, with two additional nominations, and four Emmy nominations. Deaf since she was 18 months old. Born Marlee Beth Matlin in Morton Grove, Illinois.
1973
Dave Chappelle
Dave Chappelle (born August 24, 1973) is an American comedian, screenwriter, producer, and actor. He became widely known for his sketch comedy television series, Chappelle’s Show. Born David Khari Webber Chappelle in Washington, DC.
Grey DeLisle
Grey DeLisle (born August 24, 1973) is an American voice actress and singer-songwriter. Her voice roles include Mandy from The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy and Daphne Blake from the Scooby-Doo franchise. Born Erin Grey Van Oosbree in Fort Ord, California.
1988
Rupert Grint
Rupert Grint (born 24 August 1988) is an English actor who rose to prominence playing Ron Weasley, one of the three main characters in the Harry Potter film series. Born Rupert Alexander Lloyd Grint in Harlow, Essex, England.