Famous people and celebrities born in 1905

We celebrate the remarkable individuals born in 1905. 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 1905 and honor the stars who continue to shine brightly today.

Jan. 3 Anna May Wong
Pioneering Chinese-American actress who was the first Chinese-American Hollywood movie star, breaking significant racial barriers in early 20th-century cinema.
Jan. 4 Sterling Holloway
Beloved American voice actor famous for iconic Disney character voices, including Winnie the Pooh and the Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland. He was a prominent voice talent in animation during the mid-20th century.
Jan. 12 Tex Ritter
Tex Ritter was a prominent American country music singer and actor known for his contributions to Western film soundtracks and country music during the mid-20th century.
Jan. 13 Kay Francis
Kay Francis was a prominent Hollywood actress during the Golden Age of cinema, known for her sophisticated roles in pre-Code films and her status as a top Warner Bros. star in the 1930s.
Feb. 14 Thelma Ritter
Acclaimed character actress known for her distinctive voice and comedic timing, who appeared in numerous films including 'Rear Window' and 'Miracle on 34th Street'.
Feb. 27 Franchot Tone
Franchot Tone was a prominent Hollywood actor known for his roles in classic films and television series, including appearances in 'Dr. Freeland' and 'Ben Casey'.
March 3 Marie Glory
Marie Glory was a prominent French actress who specialized in silent films during the 1920s and 1930s, making her first film appearance in 1924 with the silent movie 'Les Miracles des Loups'. She continued her acting career into the 1960s, representing an important era of early French cinema.
March 18 Robert Donat
Renowned British actor famous for his iconic roles in 'Goodbye, Mr. Chips' and '39 Steps', winning an Academy Award for Best Actor in 1939. He was a versatile performer known for his distinctive voice and compelling screen presence.
March 23 Lale Andersen
German chanson singer-songwriter famous for her iconic wartime song 'Lili Marleen', which became a cross-border musical phenomenon during World War II.
March 24 Joan Crawford
Legendary Hollywood actress who was a major star during the Golden Age of Cinema, known for iconic films like 'Mildred Pierce' and 'What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?'. Crawford was a prominent figure in American entertainment and won an Academy Award for Best Actress.
March 29 Philip Ahn
Philip Ahn was a pioneering Asian-American actor who appeared in numerous Hollywood films and television shows, often breaking racial barriers in the entertainment industry during the mid-20th century.
April 24 Robert Penn Warren
Renowned American novelist, poet, and literary critic who won three Pulitzer Prizes. He is best known for his novel 'All the King's Men' and was the first United States Poet Laureate.
May 1 Henry Koster
Renowned German-American film director, producer, and screenwriter who made significant contributions to Hollywood during the mid-20th century.
May 15 Joseph Cotten
Renowned Hollywood actor who starred in 'Citizen Kane' and became a prominent film star across multiple decades. He successfully transitioned from stage to screen, winning critical acclaim and the Venice Film Festival Best Actor Prize in 1950.
May 16 Henry Fonda
Legendary Hollywood actor with a remarkable 47-year film career, known for iconic roles in 'The Grapes of Wrath' and 'On Golden Pond', for which he won an Oscar. He was a versatile performer who excelled on both stage and screen.
June 21 Jean-Paul Sartre
Jean-Paul Sartre was a pivotal French philosopher and writer who developed existentialism, emphasizing individual freedom and personal responsibility. He was a leading intellectual of the 20th century, influencing philosophy, literature, and political thought. Sartre famously declined the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1964 as a political statement.
July 29 Clara Bow
Clara Bow was an iconic American actress of the silent film era, known as the 'It Girl' and a major Hollywood star of the 1920s. She was incredibly popular during the silent film period, starring in numerous one-reel films and defining the flapper culture.
July 29 Thelma Todd
Thelma Todd was a talented American actress and comedian of the early Hollywood era, known for her comedic roles in numerous films during the 1920s and 1930s.
Aug. 2 Myrna Loy
Renowned Hollywood actress known for her versatile roles and political activism. She was a prominent figure in classic American cinema, receiving multiple prestigious awards for her outstanding career. Her contributions to film and social causes made her a respected cultural icon.
Aug. 4 Dolores del Rio
Dolores del Rio was a pioneering Mexican actress who became a major star in Hollywood during the Golden Age of cinema, renowned for her exceptional beauty and remarkable acting talent in both silent and sound films.
Sept. 5 Arthur Koestler
Hungarian-British writer and journalist known for his influential anti-totalitarian novel 'Darkness at Noon'. He was a prominent intellectual who critically examined communist ideology and explored parapsychological research.
Sept. 18 Greta Garbo
Legendary Swedish-American actress who became an iconic Hollywood star, known for her mesmerizing screen presence and roles in classic films like 'Ninotchka' and 'Grand Hotel'. She was a model before becoming an internationally acclaimed actress who revolutionized cinema in the 1920s and 1930s.
Oct. 7 Andy Devine
Prominent American character actor known for his distinctive raspy voice, who appeared in numerous Western films and television shows during the mid-20th century.
Nov. 5 Joel McCrea
Prominent Hollywood actor known for his versatile roles in westerns, dramas, and sophisticated comedies. He starred in notable films like 'Foreign Correspondent' and 'Palm Beach Story', transitioning from a horse-wrangler and stuntman to a leading actor.
Nov. 19 Tommy Dorsey
Legendary American jazz trombonist, composer, and bandleader who significantly influenced the swing era of big band music.
Dec. 5 Otto Preminger
Renowned Austrian-American film director and producer known for classic films like 'Laura' and 'Exodus', who significantly influenced Hollywood cinema in the mid-20th century.
Dec. 11 Gilbert Roland
Mexican-American actor known for his roles in classic Hollywood films, particularly in romantic and adventure genres. He was a prominent figure in both silent and sound era cinema.
Dec. 17 Simo Häyhä
Legendary Finnish sniper known as 'White Death' during the Winter War, credited with over 500 confirmed kills, making him the deadliest sniper in recorded military history.
Dec. 24 Howard Hughes
Legendary American business magnate, aviator, and film producer who revolutionized aerospace and cinema, known for his extraordinary wealth, innovative spirit, and complex psychological struggles.
Dec. 25 Fernand Gravey
French-Belgian actor who was active in cinema during the mid-20th century, known for his roles in films like 'Duguesclin' and 'Treize a Table'.