Famous people and celebrities born in 1903

We celebrate the remarkable individuals born in 1903. 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 1903 and honor the stars who continue to shine brightly today.

Jan. 7 Alan Napier
Famous American actor best known for playing Alfred the butler in the classic Batman TV series starring Adam West. He had a long acting career spanning several decades.
Jan. 10 Barbara Hepworth
A pioneering British sculptor who significantly influenced modern art, known for her abstract and organic sculptural forms in stone, wood, and bronze.
Jan. 12 Igor Kurchatov
Soviet nuclear physicist and scientific leader of the Soviet atomic bomb project. He played a crucial role in developing the USSR's nuclear weapons program during the Cold War. Known as the 'father of the Soviet atomic bomb'.
Feb. 16 Edgar Bergen
Pioneering American ventriloquist who revolutionized entertainment through radio and film, creating iconic characters like Charlie McCarthy and becoming one of the highest-paid performers of his era.
Feb. 21 Anaïs Nin
Influential French-American diarist and writer who became a significant figure in feminist literature, known for her deeply personal and introspective journals documenting her complex emotional and artistic life.
Feb. 27 Reginald Gardiner
British-American actor known for his comedic roles, notably in Charlie Chaplin's 'The Great Dictator'. He was a prominent character actor in Hollywood during the mid-20th century.
Feb. 28 Vincente Minnelli
Renowned Hollywood film director famous for musicals like 'An American in Paris' and 'Gigi', who won an Academy Award and was a key figure in the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema.
March 6 Empress Kojun
Empress Kojun was the wife of Emperor Hirohito and mother of Emperor Akihito, playing a significant role in Japan's imperial history during the 20th century.
March 23 Joan Crawford
Joan Crawford was a legendary Hollywood actress who won an Academy Award for her iconic role in 'Mildred Pierce' and became a symbol of the golden age of American cinema, known for her powerful performances and distinctive screen presence. [bio]
May 2 Benjamin Spock
Benjamin Spock was a renowned American pediatrician who revolutionized child-rearing practices through his groundbreaking book 'Baby and Child Care'. His work, which sold over 28 million copies, provided compassionate and practical advice to generations of parents. Spock's approach emphasized understanding and responding to children's individual needs.
May 3 Bing Crosby
Legendary American singer and actor who dominated entertainment in mid-20th century, known for his smooth baritone voice and iconic performances in music, film, and radio. He won an Academy Award for 'Going My Way' and was a major cultural figure of his era.
May 8 Fernandel
Fernandel was a renowned French actor and comedian famous for his distinctive horse-like facial expressions and memorable performances in the Don Camillo film series. He was one of France's most popular comedic actors during the mid-20th century, entertaining audiences for over four decades.
May 12 Wilfrid Hyde-White
British character actor known for memorable roles in 'My Fair Lady' and 'Peyton Place', with a distinguished career in film and theater spanning several decades.
May 14 Billie Dove
Billie Dove was a prominent American actress during the silent film era, known for her beauty and successful career in Hollywood throughout the 1920s and early 1930s.
May 29 Bob Hope
Bob Hope was an iconic American comedian, actor, and entertainer who became famous for his USO tours entertaining troops during World War II and subsequent conflicts. He was a pioneering multimedia performer who excelled in vaudeville, radio, film, and television, becoming one of the most recognizable entertainers of the 20th century. [bio]
June 6 Aram Khatchaturian
Aram Khachaturian was a prominent Soviet Armenian composer who significantly influenced 20th-century classical music. He is best known for his ballets 'Gayane' and 'Spartacus', which are celebrated worldwide. His compositions often incorporated Armenian folk music elements and gained international recognition.
June 8 Marguerite Yourcenar
Belgian writer and classical scholar, she was also the first woman to join l' academie francaise. she was the sole child of michel de crayencour, and fernandel de marchienne. she lost her mother at the age of one month. her education was provided by tutors. she was eight years old when she began to read serious books and, in her …
June 18 Jeanette MacDonald
Jeanette MacDonald was a celebrated American soprano and actress who rose to fame in Hollywood musical films during the 1930s, known for her collaborations with Maurice Chevalier and Nelson Eddy.
June 19 Lou Gehrig
Legendary New York Yankees first baseman who became an American sports icon, known for his incredible consecutive games streak and tragic early death from ALS, now known as Lou Gehrig's disease. [bio]
June 25 Anne Revere
Actress (national velvet), passes away from pneumonia at 87
June 26 George Orwell
Renowned author of dystopian classics '1984' and 'Animal Farm', who profoundly influenced political literature and coined terms like 'Big Brother'. [bio]
July 26 Estes Kefauver
Estes Kefauver was a prominent Democratic U.S. Senator from Tennessee who led significant crime investigations in the 1950s and ran as Adlai Stevenson's vice presidential candidate in 1956.
Aug. 31 Arthur Godfrey
Versatile American entertainer who excelled as a radio announcer, singer, aviator, and television personality. He was a prominent media figure in the mid-20th century, receiving multiple Emmy nominations for his outstanding performances.
Sept. 3 Georges Flamant
French actor known for his role in the film 'La Chienne', a notable figure in early 20th-century French cinema who had a long career spanning several decades.
Sept. 11 Theodor Adorno
Theodor Adorno was a prominent German philosopher and critical theorist of the Frankfurt School, known for his profound contributions to social philosophy, musicology, and cultural criticism. His works like 'Negative Dialectics' and 'The Philosophy of New Music' significantly influenced post-war intellectual thought. He was a key figure in developing critical theory and analyzing modern culture's complex dynamics.
Sept. 12 Mark Rothko
Mark Rothko was a pioneering abstract expressionist painter known for his large color field paintings that explored profound emotional and spiritual dimensions. He was a key figure in the New York School of art and significantly influenced modern art in the post-war period.
Sept. 13 Claudette Colbert
Acclaimed French-American actress who starred in over 50 movies and won an Oscar for 'It Happened One Night' in 1934. She was a prominent Hollywood star during the Golden Age of Cinema, known for her versatility and charismatic performances.
Sept. 18 Vladimir Horowitz
Vladimir Horowitz was a legendary Russian-American classical pianist renowned for his extraordinary technical skill and emotional depth. He is considered one of the most influential pianists of the 20th century, known for his remarkable interpretations of classical and romantic repertoire. His performances were characterized by incredible virtuosity and profound musical sensitivity. [bio]
Oct. 17 Irene Ryan
Beloved actress best known for her iconic role as Granny in the popular TV sitcom 'The Beverly Hillbillies', a comedy series that ran from 1962 to 1971.
Oct. 22 Curly Howard
Famous American comedian and actor, best known as a member of the iconic comedy trio The Three Stooges, who revolutionized slapstick comedy in vaudeville and film. [bio]
Oct. 28 Evelyn Waugh
Evelyn Waugh was a prominent British novelist known for his satirical works, including 'Decline and Fall' and 'Brideshead Revisited'. He was a key figure in 20th-century English literature, renowned for his sharp wit and social commentary.
Nov. 4 Walker Evans
Renowned American documentary photographer famous for his powerful Depression-era images capturing rural poverty and social landscapes, particularly his work for the Farm Security Administration.
Nov. 7 Dean Jagger
American actor known for roles in 'Mr. Novak' and 'Rawhide', who won an Oscar and had a distinguished career in film and television.
Nov. 12 Jack Oakie
Jack Oakie was a prominent American comedian and character actor who appeared in over 100 films, most notably in Charlie Chaplin's satirical masterpiece 'The Great Dictator' where he played a caricature of Benito Mussolini.
Dec. 5 Johannes Heesters
Renowned Dutch-German actor, singer, and stage performer with an extraordinary career spanning over seven decades. He was a prominent entertainer in German-speaking countries, though controversial for his activities during the Nazi era. Heesters was one of the most enduring performers in entertainment history.
Dec. 10 Una Merkel
American film actress known for her comedic roles in Hollywood during the 1930s and 1940s, particularly in movies like '42nd Street' and notable character performances.
Dec. 12 Yasujiro Ozu
Legendary Japanese film director renowned for his minimalist style and profound family dramas, considered one of the most influential filmmakers in cinema history.
Dec. 26 Elisha Cook
Elisha Cook Jr. was a prominent character actor known for his roles in classic film noir and Western movies, particularly memorable in 'The Maltese Falcon' and 'Shane'.
Dec. 28 John von Neumann
Renowned Hungarian-American mathematician and physicist who made groundbreaking contributions to multiple scientific fields, including computer science, quantum mechanics, and game theory. He was a key figure in the Manhattan Project and is considered one of the most influential scientists of the 20th century.
Dec. 29 Earl Hines
Legendary jazz pianist known as the 'Father of Modern Jazz Piano', who significantly influenced the development of bebop and swing music.