Famous people and celebrities born in 1900

We celebrate the remarkable individuals born in 1900. This year gave rise to a new generation of talent, including actors, musicians, athletes, politicians and more who have significantly impacted our world. Dive into the stories of these famous personalities, explore their journeys, and see how they've shaped culture and society since their birth year. Join us as we take a nostalgic trip back to 1900 and honor the stars who continue to shine brightly today.

Jan. 2 William Haines
William Haines was a prominent American actor during the silent film era who later became a successful interior designer after leaving Hollywood. He was known for his distinctive personality and was one of the first openly gay actors in Hollywood.
Jan. 20 Colin Clive
British actor known for his iconic roles in Frankenstein (1931) and Jane Eyre (1934), who transitioned from military service to stage and film after a knee injury. He was recognized for his brooding performances in early Hollywood and British cinema.
Jan. 25 Theodosius Dobzhansky
Renowned geneticist who made fundamental contributions to evolutionary biology, helping to integrate Darwinian theory with modern genetics and population studies.
Jan. 27 Hyman Rickover
Admiral Hyman Rickover was a pioneering naval officer who revolutionized naval technology by developing nuclear-powered submarines and ships. He served in the US Navy for over 60 years and was instrumental in transforming naval warfare and maritime capabilities. Known as the 'Father of the Nuclear Navy', his innovations had profound impacts on military strategy and technological advancement.
Jan. 28 Alice Neel
Alice Neel was a prominent American portrait painter known for her emotionally charged and psychologically penetrating works that captured diverse subjects from New York's social landscape. She was a key figure in the Twentieth-century American art scene, particularly celebrated for her humanistic and empathetic portrayal of marginalized communities.
Feb. 5 Adlai Stevenson
Prominent American politician who served as Governor of Illinois and was the Democratic Party's presidential nominee in 1952 and 1956, challenging Dwight D. Eisenhower. He was known for his intellectual approach and eloquent speeches during the Cold War era.
Feb. 22 Luis Buñuel
Influential Spanish surrealist filmmaker who pioneered avant-garde cinema, collaborating with Salvador Dalí and creating groundbreaking films that challenged social norms.
March 2 Kurt Weill
Renowned German-American composer who revolutionized modern opera through his collaboration with Bertolt Brecht, creating groundbreaking works like 'The Threepenny Opera' that blended social critique with innovative musical styles.
March 6 Lefty Grove
Legendary Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Philadelphia Athletics and Boston Red Sox, considered one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history.
March 8 Howard Aiken
Howard Aiken was a pioneering computer scientist who played a crucial role in the early development of computing technology. He collaborated with IBM to design the Harvard Mark I, a groundbreaking electromechanical computer that significantly advanced computational capabilities. His work laid important foundations for modern computing and digital technology.
March 19 Frédéric Joliot-Curie
French chemist who, together with his wife Irène Joliot-Curie, won the 1935 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for producing synthesized radioactive substances.
March 24 Erich Fromm
Renowned German social psychologist, psychoanalyst, and humanistic philosopher who significantly influenced 20th-century critical theory and social psychology. He explored the relationship between psychology and society, emphasizing human freedom and the impact of social structures on individual behavior.
April 5 Spencer Tracy
Spencer Tracy was a legendary Hollywood actor known for his versatile performances and distinctive appearance. He won two consecutive Academy Awards and was considered one of the most respected actors of his era. Tracy starred in numerous classic films and had a notable partnership with Katharine Hepburn.
April 25 Wolfgang Pauli
Wolfgang Pauli was a groundbreaking Austrian-born physicist who made fundamental contributions to quantum mechanics. He was awarded the 1945 Nobel Prize in Physics for his exclusion principle, which revolutionized understanding of atomic structure. Pauli was also instrumental in developing quantum field theory and hypothesized the existence of the neutrino.
April 26 Charles Richter
Charles Richter was a pioneering American seismologist who developed the Richter scale, a groundbreaking method for measuring earthquake magnitudes. His work revolutionized our understanding of seismic activity and geological research.
May 12 Helene Weigel
Prominent German-Austrian actress known for her theatrical work, particularly in Bertolt Brecht's plays like 'Mother Courage'. She was a key figure in 20th-century avant-garde theater.
May 17 Ayatullah Ruhollah Khomeini
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini was a prominent Iranian Shia Muslim religious and political leader who led the Iranian Revolution in 1979, overthrowing the Shah and establishing an Islamic Republic. He served as the Supreme Leader of Iran from 1979 until his death in 1989, fundamentally transforming Iran's political and social landscape.
May 18 Ruhollah Khomeini
Ruhollah Khomeini was the Supreme Leader of Iran who led the Iranian Revolution in 1979, fundamentally transforming the country's political and religious landscape.
June 9 Fred Waring
Fred Waring was a prominent American musician, bandleader, and television personality known for leading the popular musical group 'Waring's Pennsylvanians' during the mid-20th century.
June 25 Lord Louis Mountbatten
Lord Louis Mountbatten was a prominent British naval officer and statesman who played a crucial role in British imperial history, serving as the last Viceroy of India and making significant contributions during World War II.
June 30 Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Renowned French writer, poet, aristocrat, journalist, and pioneering aviator, best known for his novella 'The Little Prince'. He was also a successful commercial pilot and a heroic military aviator during World War II.
July 2 Tyrone Guthrie
Renowned British theatre director, producer, and writer who significantly influenced modern theatre practices and international theatre development.
July 10 Evelyn Laye
Prominent English actress known for her performances in musical theatre and light opera during the early 20th century, particularly active in London's vibrant stage scene.
July 12 Chhabi Biswas
Prominent Indian actor and director from the Bengali film industry, known for significant contributions to early 20th-century cinema.
Aug. 4 Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong was a legendary jazz trumpeter, singer, and bandleader who revolutionized jazz music. Known as 'Satchmo', he was one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century.
Aug. 4 Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon was the Queen Mother of the United Kingdom, wife of King George VI, and mother of Queen Elizabeth II. She was renowned for her strength during World War II and her significant role in supporting the British monarchy during challenging times.
Aug. 4 Mother Elizabeth
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon was the wife of King George VI and mother of Queen Elizabeth II. Known affectionately as the 'Queen Mum', she was beloved for her dignity, courage, and support of the royal family during challenging times.
Aug. 25 Hans Adolf Krebs
Renowned German biochemist who won the Nobel Prize for his groundbreaking work on metabolic cycles, particularly the citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle). He made significant contributions to understanding cellular respiration and intermediary metabolism.
Sept. 13 Gladys George
Prominent American stage and film actress of the 1930s and 1940s, known for her powerful performances in dramatic roles and her work in Hollywood's Golden Age.
Oct. 3 Thomas Wolfe
Thomas Wolfe was a prominent American novelist and playwright known for his autobiographical novels like 'Look Homeward, Angel' and 'You Can't Go Home Again'. He was a significant figure in early 20th-century American literature, celebrated for his expansive and poetic writing style. His works often explored themes of personal identity, family, and the American experience.
Oct. 7 Heinrich Himmler
A key Nazi leader who was one of the primary architects of the Holocaust, serving as Reichsführer of the SS and playing a central role in the systematic genocide of millions of Jews during World War II.
Oct. 9 Alastair Sim
Renowned Scottish character actor famous for his versatile performances in British cinema, particularly in comedies and character roles. He is best known for his iconic portrayal of Ebenezer Scrooge in 'A Christmas Carol' (1951). Sim was a highly respected actor with a distinctive comedic style.
Oct. 10 Helen Hayes
Helen Hayes was a renowned American actress who began her stage career as a child prodigy and became an Oscar and Emmy-nominated performer. She was a celebrated actress in both theater and film, known for her versatility and memorable roles in classics like 'A Farewell to Arms' and 'Anastasia'.
Oct. 17 Jean Arthur
Jean Arthur was a prominent Hollywood actress of the 1930s and 1940s, known for her distinctive voice and comedic talents. She starred in classic films like 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington' and 'Shane', and was considered one of the most popular actresses of her era.
Oct. 30 Ragnar Granit
Nobel Prize-winning Finnish-Swedish physiologist who made groundbreaking contributions to understanding visual perception.
Nov. 3 Adi Dassler
Adi Dassler was a pioneering German entrepreneur who founded Adidas, transforming athletic footwear and sportswear globally. He revolutionized sports equipment design and became a key figure in modern athletic manufacturing.
Nov. 8 Margaret Mitchell
Renowned American novelist who wrote the Pulitzer Prize-winning epic 'Gone with the Wind', a landmark work of historical fiction set during the American Civil War that became a global literary phenomenon. [bio]
Nov. 15 Aaron Copland
A renowned American composer who is considered one of the most important figures in 20th-century classical music. He is famous for works like 'Appalachian Spring' and for developing a distinctly American musical style.
Nov. 25 Rudolf Höss
Duplicate entry for Rudolf Höss, Nazi SS officer and Auschwitz commandant.
Nov. 26 Helen Gahagan
Helen Gahagan Douglas was a pioneering American actress and politician who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from California. She was a notable figure in the entertainment industry before transitioning to politics, where she became a trailblazer for women in congressional roles.
Dec. 6 Agnes Moorehead
Renowned American actress famous for her iconic role as Endora in the 1960s TV comedy 'Bewitched'. She was a versatile performer with a career spanning stage, radio, film, and television, earning four Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actress.
Dec. 8 Uday Shankar
Uday Shankar was a pioneering Indian dancer and choreographer who revolutionized classical and folk dance forms, introducing modern interpretations and global influences to traditional Indian dance. He is considered a key figure in the evolution of Indian performing arts during the early 20th century.
Dec. 12 Sammy Davis
Legendary African American entertainer known for his groundbreaking performances in music, dance, and acting, and as a key member of the famous Rat Pack alongside Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.
Dec. 23 Marie Bell
Renowned French actress and resistance fighter who had a remarkable career spanning from 1924 to 1973. She began as a dancer at age 13 and was a courageous member of the French Resistance during World War II.