Famous people and celebrities born in 1901

We celebrate the remarkable individuals born in 1901. 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 1901 and honor the stars who continue to shine brightly today.

Jan. 14 Bebe Daniels
Bebe Daniels was a prominent American actress and entertainer who transitioned from silent films to talkies, appearing in over 200 short films and later becoming known for her patriotic service during World War II.
Feb. 1 Clark Gable
Legendary Hollywood actor known as 'the king of Hollywood', Clark Gable was a prominent male star who won an Oscar for 'It Happened One Night' and famously played Rhett Butler in 'Gone with the Wind'. His career spanned from Broadway to iconic film roles in the 1930s and 1940s.
Feb. 2 Jascha Heifetz
Jascha Heifetz was a legendary Lithuanian-American violinist considered one of the greatest classical musicians of the 20th century. He revolutionized violin performance with his extraordinary technical precision and emotional depth. His prodigious talent was evident from childhood, making him a global sensation by his early teens.
Feb. 9 Brian Donlevy
Prominent American actor of Irish descent known for his roles in classic films, particularly in film noir and western genres during the mid-20th century.
Feb. 16 Chester Morris
Chester Morris was a prominent American actor known for his roles in films during the 1930s and 1940s, particularly in the Boston Blackie detective film series.
Feb. 25 Zeppo Marx
Zeppo Marx was the youngest of the famous Marx Brothers comedy team, known for his supporting roles in their early comedy films and later working as a theatrical agent and businessman.
Feb. 28 Linus Pauling
Renowned American chemist and Nobel laureate who won Nobel Prizes in Chemistry (1954) and Peace (1962). A Stanford University professor known for groundbreaking scientific research and advocacy for vitamin C's health benefits. His interdisciplinary work significantly impacted chemistry, quantum mechanics, and molecular biology.
April 5 Melvyn Douglas
Melvyn Douglas was a renowned Hollywood actor who won two Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor in 'Hud' and 'Being There'. He had a distinguished career spanning several decades in film and television.
May 1 Sterling Brown
Sterling Brown was a prominent African American poet, literary critic, and academic who significantly contributed to the Harlem Renaissance and African American literary studies.
May 7 Gary Cooper
Legendary Hollywood actor of the Golden Age, Gary Cooper was a prominent leading man known for his iconic roles in Western and war films. He won an Academy Award for his performance in 'Sergeant York' and was nominated for several other prestigious acting awards. Cooper was one of the most recognizable and respected actors of his era.
June 29 Nelson Eddy
Nelson Eddy was a renowned American baritone singer and Hollywood musical film star of the 1930s and 1940s. He was famous for his romantic musical films with Jeanette MacDonald, including classics like 'Rose Marie' and 'New Moon'. His performances were immensely popular in films, radio, and live performances.
July 28 Rudy Vallee
Rudy Vallee was a prominent American singer and actor of the 1920s and 1930s, known for pioneering the crooning style and becoming one of the first multimedia entertainment stars of the early sound era.
Aug. 4 Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong was a legendary jazz trumpeter, singer, and bandleader who revolutionized jazz music with his innovative improvisation and infectious style. Known as 'Satchmo', he was renowned for his bright energy, impeccable musical timing, and charismatic smile. He is considered one of the most influential musicians in American jazz history.
Aug. 9 Charles Farrell
American actor known for his role in the popular TV series 'My Little Margie', who was active during the golden age of Hollywood and television.
Sept. 5 Florence Eldridge
Renowned Broadway actress known for her theatrical performances, particularly in 'Long Day's Journey into Night', who had a significant career in theater during the mid-20th century.
Sept. 25 Robert Bresson
Robert Bresson was a renowned French film director known for his austere and minimalist cinematographic style. He created 14 influential films over 40 years, primarily during and after World War II, and is considered a key figure in the French New Wave cinema movement. His work was deeply influenced by Jansenist philosophy, exploring profound human experiences through a stark and …
Sept. 26 George Raft
Iconic Hollywood actor known for his tough-guy roles in gangster films like Scarface, famous for his distinctive style and association with film noir and crime movies.
Sept. 30 Enrico Fermi
Nobel Prize-winning Italian physicist who made fundamental contributions to quantum theory, nuclear physics, and the development of the first nuclear reactor.
Oct. 11 Alberto Giacometti
Alberto Giacometti was a world-renowned Swiss sculptor, painter, and graphic artist, famous for his distinctive elongated human figures that revolutionized modern art.
Oct. 12 Salvador Dali
Renowned Spanish surrealist painter known for his eccentric artistic style and groundbreaking contributions to 20th-century art, famous for works like 'The Persistence of Memory'.
Nov. 28 Edwina Mountbatten
Edwina Mountbatten was a prominent British aristocrat and humanitarian who served as the last Vicereine of India alongside her husband Lord Louis Mountbatten during the final years of British colonial rule. She was known for her philanthropic work and her significant social and political influence during a transformative period in British and Indian history.
Nov. 29 Mildred Harris
Mildred Harris was a prominent silent film actress during the early 20th century, known for her roles in numerous films during the golden age of Hollywood's silent era.
Dec. 5 Walt Disney
Walt Disney was the co-founder of The Walt Disney Company and a pioneering animator who revolutionized the entertainment industry through animation, theme parks, and storytelling.
Dec. 5 Werner Heisenberg
Werner Heisenberg was a renowned German physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics for his groundbreaking work in quantum mechanics, particularly the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle.
Dec. 16 Margaret Mead
A pioneering American cultural anthropologist who revolutionized understanding of human behavior across different societies. Her groundbreaking research in the South Pacific challenged Western assumptions about gender, sexuality, and cultural development. She was a prominent public intellectual who significantly influenced social sciences and popular understanding of anthropology.
Dec. 27 Marlene Dietrich
Iconic German-American actress and singer who was a major international star during Hollywood's golden age. She was renowned for her androgynous style, powerful performances, and significant contributions during World War II by entertaining Allied troops. Her legendary status transcended cinema, making her a cultural symbol of resilience and artistic innovation.