Famous people and celebrities born in January 1903

Welcome to our dedicated page for celebrating the notable individuals born in January 1903! This month and year saw the birth of many influential figures who have made significant contributions to various fields, including entertainment, sports, politics, and more. Explore the biographies and achievements of these famous personalities and see how their talents have shaped the world. Join us in honoring the stars born in this memorable time.

• Jan. 2 Kane Tanaka

  Kane Tanaka was a remarkable Japanese supercentenarian who lived to be 119 years old, becoming the second oldest verified person in world history and the oldest Japanese person ever recorded.

• Jan. 3 Charles Foulkes

  Canadian military general who played a significant role in World War II and later served as Chief of the General Staff of the Canadian Army.

• Jan. 4 Johann Georg Elser

  Johann Georg Elser was a German carpenter who attempted to assassinate Adolf Hitler in 1939 by planting a bomb at a Nazi meeting in Munich, demonstrating remarkable courage in resisting the Nazi regime.

• Jan. 5 Grimalda Gucci

  Grimalda Gucci was a key figure in the Gucci family business, daughter of the company's founder. She served on the board before being forced to resign and was married to Gucci executive G. Vitali, with whom she had no children.

• Jan. 6 Maurice Abravanel

  Renowned Greek-American conductor and pianist who made significant contributions to classical music during the mid-20th century.

• 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. 11 Alan Paton

  Alan Paton was a renowned South African writer, novelist, and anti-apartheid activist best known for his powerful novel 'Cry, the Beloved Country', which highlighted the social injustices of racial segregation in South Africa.

• 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'.

• Jan. 13 Kay Francis [Katherine E Gibbs]

  Prominent Hollywood actress of the 1930s, known for her sophisticated roles in romantic dramas and comedies during the Golden Age of cinema.

• Jan. 16 Pierre-Henri Simon

  Prominent French intellectual and literary figure who made significant contributions to literature and criticism. He was a versatile writer known for his essays, novels, and poetry, and received the prestigious Prix Eve Delacroix in 1963.

• Jan. 22 Fritz Houtermans

  Fritz Houtermans was a prominent Polish-German physicist who made significant contributions to nuclear physics and quantum mechanics during the early to mid-20th century.

• Jan. 23 Jorge Eliécer Gaitán

  Prominent Colombian political leader and lawyer who served as the 16th Minister of National Education, assassinated in 1948 which triggered significant political upheaval in Colombia.

• Jan. 23 Kalanag

  Renowned German stage magician and entertainer who was popular during the post-World War II era, known for his spectacular magic performances.

• Jan. 25 "Sleepy" John

  Legendary blues musician known as 'Sleepy' John Estes, a significant figure in early Delta blues and influential in the development of the genre.

• Jan. 27 John Eccles (neurophysiologist)

  John Eccles was a renowned neurophysiologist who made groundbreaking contributions to understanding synaptic transmission. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1963 for his significant research on neural mechanisms.

• Jan. 27 John Eccles

  MED - Australian-swiss neurophysiologist and academic, nobel prize laureate (d. 1997)

• Jan. 27 Sir John Carew Eccles

  Nobel Prize laureate for their discoveries concerning the ionic mechanisms involved in excitation and inhibition in the peripheral and central portions of the nerve cell membrane

• Jan. 28 Kathleen Lonsdale

  Kathleen Lonsdale was a pioneering British crystallographer who made groundbreaking contributions to understanding molecular structures, particularly benzene. She was the first woman to be elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society in the physical sciences. Her scientific work significantly advanced the field of X-ray crystallography.

• Jan. 28 Aleksander Kamiński

  Aleksander Kamiński was a notable Polish educator, writer, and resistance fighter during World War II. He is best known for his book 'Kamienie na szaniec' (Stones for the Rampart), which chronicles the heroic actions of young Polish resistance fighters. His work significantly contributed to documenting the Polish resistance during the Nazi occupation.

• Jan. 29 Yesayahu Leibowitz

  A prominent Israeli intellectual and scientist who made significant contributions to biochemistry and was known for his provocative philosophical and religious commentary. He was a professor at Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a respected voice in Israeli public discourse, challenging traditional views on Judaism and ethics.

• Jan. 31 Tallulah Bankhead

  Tallulah Bankhead was a legendary American actress and radio personality known for her distinctive voice, flamboyant personality, and memorable performances in theater and film.