Famous people and celebrities born in December 1908

Welcome to our dedicated page for celebrating the notable individuals born in December 1908! 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.

Dec. 4 Alfred Hershey
Renowned American geneticist who, along with Martha Chase, conducted the groundbreaking Hershey-Chase experiment that conclusively demonstrated DNA as the carrier of genetic information. His work was pivotal in understanding molecular genetics and earned him the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1969.
Dec. 6 Baby Face Nelson
Notorious American criminal and bank robber during the Great Depression era, known for his violent criminal activities and conflicts with law enforcement.
Dec. 6 Pierre Graber
Swiss politician and lawyer who served as the 69th President of the Swiss Confederation, playing a significant role in Swiss political history during the mid-20th century.
Dec. 8 John A. Volpe
Prominent American politician who served as the 61st Governor of Massachusetts and later as United States Secretary of Transportation.
Dec. 8 Concha Piquer
Renowned Spanish actress and singer who was a prominent figure in Spanish entertainment during the mid-20th century.
Dec. 10 Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Messiaen was a groundbreaking 20th-century French composer renowned for his innovative musical style that blended natural sounds, spiritual themes, and complex rhythmic structures. He was particularly famous for incorporating bird songs and non-Western musical traditions into classical compositions. His work profoundly influenced modern classical and avant-garde music.
Dec. 11 Manoel de Oliveira
Renowned Portuguese film director known for his significant contributions to world cinema, particularly in art house and experimental film genres.
Dec. 11 Elliott Carter
Influential American composer and music theorist, known for his complex and innovative modern classical compositions.
Dec. 11 Amon Göth
Notorious Nazi SS officer and commandant of the Płaszów concentration camp, infamous for his extreme cruelty during the Holocaust.
Dec. 12 Gustav Ernesaks
Gustav Ernesaks was a prominent Estonian composer and choral conductor who significantly contributed to the national musical heritage. He played a crucial role in preserving Estonian musical traditions during the Soviet era and was known for his choral works and arrangements.
Dec. 13 Van Heflin
Prominent American film actor known for his versatile roles in Hollywood during the mid-20th century, winning an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Dec. 14 Laurence Naismith
Laurence Naismith was a distinguished British actor known for his roles in film and television, including the notable character of Judge Fulton in 'The Persuaders'.
Dec. 15 Swami Ranganathananda
A prominent Indian monk, philosopher, and spiritual leader of the Ramakrishna Order who dedicated his life to spreading Vedanta philosophy and promoting spiritual and social harmony across India and internationally.
Dec. 16 Remedios Varo
Renowned Spanish-Mexican surrealist painter and anarchist who was a key figure in the Mexican art scene of the mid-20th century, known for her mystical and intricate paintings.
Dec. 17 Willard Libby
Renowned American chemist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for developing the carbon-14 dating method, revolutionizing archaeological and geological research.
Dec. 18 Celia Johnson
Renowned British actress famous for her iconic roles in classic films like 'Brief Encounter' and 'This Happy Breed', she was a significant figure in mid-20th century British cinema.
Dec. 20 Dennis Morgan
Dennis Morgan was a prominent American actor, leading man, and opera singer who starred in notable films like 'The Great Ziegfeld' and 'Kitty Foyle'. He was also a television pioneer, creating the series '21 Beacon Street' in 1958.
Dec. 21 Luigi Barzini
Prominent Italian writer, journalist, politician, and columnist who served as a member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies from 1958 to 1972.
Dec. 21 Pat Weaver
Television executive from Los Angeles who played a pivotal role in early television programming, notably launching the Today Show.
Dec. 22 Giacomo Manzù
Renowned Italian sculptor and academic known for his significant contributions to modern sculpture, particularly ecclesiastical art and bronze works.
Dec. 22 Max Bill
Influential Swiss artist, architect, and designer who was a key figure in the Bauhaus movement, known for his abstract art and architectural innovations.
Dec. 23 Yousuf Karsh
Renowned Armenian-Canadian photographer famous for his iconic portraits of world leaders, artists, and celebrities during the 20th century. His dramatic black and white portraits captured the essence of his subjects with remarkable depth and emotion.
Dec. 25 Quentin Crisp
Iconic British gay writer and social provocateur who challenged societal norms through his flamboyant persona and groundbreaking memoir 'The Naked Civil Servant'. He became a symbol of LGBTQ+ visibility and self-acceptance during a deeply conservative era.
Dec. 28 Lew Ayres
Prominent American actor known for his roles in classic films like 'All Quiet on the Western Front' and 'Johnny Belinda', for which he received Oscar nominations. He was also famous for pioneering the Dr. Kildare film series in the late 1930s.
Dec. 31 Simon Wiesenthal
Simon Wiesenthal was a renowned Holocaust survivor and Nazi hunter who dedicated his life to tracking down Nazi war criminals after World War II. He personally helped identify and bring over 1,100 Nazi perpetrators to justice, most famously capturing Adolf Eichmann in 1960. His work was crucial in ensuring accountability for the Holocaust and preserving historical memory.