Famous people and celebrities born in 1912

We celebrate the remarkable individuals born in 1912. 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 1912 and honor the stars who continue to shine brightly today.

Jan. 1 Kim Philby
Infamous British double agent who worked for Soviet intelligence during the Cold War. He was a high-ranking member of British MI6 who secretly passed classified information to the Soviet Union for decades. His betrayal was one of the most significant espionage scandals of the 20th century.
Jan. 3 Federico Borrell
Anarchist and Spanish Republican militiaman during the Spanish Civil War, famously captured in Robert Capa's iconic 'Falling Soldier' photograph. Known as 'Taino', he fought against Francoist forces in Córdoba in September 1936.
Jan. 8 José Ferrer
Renowned Puerto Rican-American actor and director, best known for his Oscar-winning performance in 'Cyrano de Bergerac'. He was the first Hispanic actor to win an Academy Award.
Jan. 28 Jackson Pollock
Jackson Pollock was a pioneering American abstract expressionist painter known for his revolutionary 'drip painting' technique. He believed art emerged from the unconscious and created groundbreaking works that transformed modern art. His 1943 painting 'The Moon-Woman Cuts the Circle' exemplifies his innovative artistic vision.
Feb. 9 Ginette Leclerc
French actress who appeared in nearly 90 films during the early to mid-20th century, with a notable career spanning from the 1930s to the early 1980s.
Feb. 13 Margaretta Scott
Renowned English actress known for her stage and screen performances during the mid-20th century.
March 23 Wernher von Braun
Rocket scientist (v1/v2) dies after 65 years of smoking
April 5 John Le Mesurier
Beloved British comedy actor famous for his understated, gentle performance as Sergeant Arthur Wilson in the iconic BBC sitcom 'Dad's Army'. He appeared in over 120 films, typically in memorable supporting roles.
April 8 Sonja Henie
Legendary Norwegian figure skater who revolutionized the sport, winning three consecutive Olympic gold medals and becoming a Hollywood movie star. She transformed figure skating from a technical sport to an artistic performance and was one of the highest-paid athletes of her time.
April 15 Kim Il-sung
Kim Il-sung was the first supreme leader of North Korea, establishing a totalitarian regime and cult of personality that profoundly shaped the country's political landscape from 1948 to 1994.
April 18 Wendy Barrie
Wendy Barrie was a British-American actress who appeared in 25 movies during Hollywood's golden era, notably starring in films like 'Dead End' and 'Wings Over Honolulu'. She was also a pioneering television personality, hosting one of TV's first talk shows.
April 19 Glenn Seaborg
Renowned American nuclear chemist who won the Nobel Prize for discovering plutonium and played a crucial role in the Manhattan Project. He discovered ten atomic elements and was the first chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, making significant contributions to nuclear science.
April 27 Zohra Sehgal
Renowned Indian actress, dancer, and choreographer who made significant contributions to Indian performing arts across multiple decades, known for her versatility and pioneering spirit.
May 18 Perry Como
Perry Como was a legendary American pop singer and television personality known for his smooth vocal style and numerous hit songs during the 1940s and 1950s.
May 22 Herbert C Brown
Herbert C. Brown was a renowned English-born American chemist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his groundbreaking work in organic synthesis and hydroboration. He made significant contributions to organic chemistry and was a distinguished professor at Purdue University.
May 26 Jay Silverheels
Native American actor best known for playing Tonto alongside Clayton Moore in the iconic 'The Lone Ranger' television series from 1949 to 1957.
May 28 Patrick White
Patrick White was an acclaimed Australian novelist who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1973. He was a significant literary figure known for works like 'The Tree of Man' and 'Voss'. White was also notable for being openly gay during a challenging historical period. [bio]
June 6 Maria Montez
Prominent Dominican-French actress of the 1940s, known for her exotic roles in Hollywood adventure films and her status as a pin-up icon during World War II.
July 3 Folco Lulli
Italian actor known for his work in cinema during the mid-20th century, with a notable family connection to another actor, Piero Lulli.
July 4 Viviane Romance
Viviane Romance was a prominent French actress who rose to fame in the 1930s and 1940s, known for her captivating performances in French cinema. She was particularly renowned for her roles as seductive and charming characters, often portraying vampish or coquettish women. As Miss Paris 1930, she transitioned successfully from beauty pageants to a celebrated acting career.
July 6 Heinrich Harrer
Austrian mountaineer, geographer, and adventurer best known for his remarkable journey through Tibet and his book 'Seven Years in Tibet', which detailed his experiences during World War II.
July 17 Art Linkletter
Art Linkletter was a legendary Canadian-American radio and television host known for his popular shows 'People Are Funny', 'House Party', and 'Life with Linkletter'. Over 16 years of broadcasting, he interviewed over 30,000 people and became famous for his improvisational and comedic style.
July 23 Michael Wilding
British actor known for his roles in films like 'The World of Suzie Wong' and his connection to the Courtney affair.
July 23 M. H. Abrams
Renowned American literary critic, scholar, and professor emeritus at Cornell University, known for his influential work in literary theory and criticism.
July 31 Milton Friedman
Renowned American economist who revolutionized economic thought through the Chicago School of Economics and won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1976. His groundbreaking work on monetary theory and economic policy profoundly influenced global economic understanding.
Aug. 5 Abbé Pierre
French Roman Catholic priest and humanitarian who heroically helped Jews escape during World War II and founded Emmaus, a renowned non-profit organization dedicated to providing housing and support for the poor and marginalized. [bio]
Aug. 10 Jorge Amado
Renowned Brazilian novelist who wrote critically acclaimed works depicting Brazilian social life, often challenging political systems. His novels 'Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon' and 'Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands' became international literary sensations and were adapted into successful films.
Aug. 15 Julia Child
Renowned American chef who revolutionized French cooking in the United States through her groundbreaking cookbooks and television shows. She introduced sophisticated French cuisine to American home cooks and became a cultural icon in culinary television.
Aug. 15 Wendy Hiller
Acclaimed British actress known for her powerful performances in classic films like 'Major Barbara' and 'David Copperfield'. She was a distinguished stage and screen actress with a notable career in British theatre and cinema.
Aug. 22 John Lee Hooker
Legendary blues musician and singer-songwriter who significantly influenced modern blues and rock music. Known for his distinctive boogie style and powerful guitar playing, he was a key figure in the development of electric blues.
Aug. 23 Gene Kelly
Legendary Hollywood dancer, actor, director, and choreographer who transformed movie musicals. Pioneered using dance to tell stories and reveal character emotions, revolutionizing the musical genre in the 1940s and 1950s. [bio]
Aug. 29 Barry Sullivan
Prominent American film actor known for his roles in Hollywood during the mid-20th century, particularly in film noir and western genres.
Sept. 5 John Cage
John Cage was a pioneering avant-garde composer, artist, and philosopher who revolutionized 20th-century music through experimental techniques like chance operations and his famous work 4'33". He significantly influenced modern art, music, and performance practices.
Sept. 7 David Packard
Co-founder of Hewlett-Packard (HP), David Packard was a pioneering Silicon Valley entrepreneur who revolutionized the technology and electronics industry. He and William Hewlett started their legendary company in a small Palo Alto garage, creating one of the most influential tech companies in history.
Sept. 22 Martha Scott
Martha Scott was a prominent American actress known for her stage and film performances, with notable roles in theater and Hollywood productions.
Oct. 16 Maidie Norman
Maidie Norman was a prominent African American actress known for her significant roles in classic Hollywood films, particularly in psychological thrillers and dramas of the 1960s.
Oct. 25 Minnie Pearl
Beloved American country comedian and Grand Ole Opry performer known for her comedic persona and signature straw hat with price tag.
Oct. 28 Richard Doll
Pioneering British epidemiologist who conducted groundbreaking research proving the causal relationship between cigarette smoking and lung cancer. His landmark studies in the 1950s fundamentally transformed public health understanding and policy regarding tobacco use.
Oct. 31 Dale Evans
Dale Evans was a prominent American singer-songwriter, actress, and author, best known for her work in Western films and television alongside her husband Roy Rogers. She was a significant figure in mid-20th century entertainment, particularly in Western and Christian media.
Nov. 8 June Havoc
Renowned American actress, dancer, and stage director known for her successful Broadway and Hollywood career, and sister of famous stripper Gypsy Rose Lee.
Nov. 19 George Emil Palade
Renowned Romanian-American cell biologist who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1974 for his groundbreaking work on cell structures and function. He made significant contributions to understanding cellular organelles, particularly ribosomes.
Nov. 21 Eleanor Powell
Renowned American tap dancer and actress who was married to actor Glenn Ford. She was a prominent performer in Hollywood's golden age and known for her exceptional tap dancing skills.
Nov. 30 Gordon Parks
Pioneering African American photographer, filmmaker, writer, and civil rights activist who captured powerful images of racial segregation and social inequality in mid-20th century America.
Dec. 12 Henry Armstrong
Henry Armstrong was a legendary boxer who dominated multiple weight classes during the 1930s and 1940s, considered one of the greatest fighters in boxing history.
Dec. 21 Paul Meurisse
Renowned French actor and former partner of Edith Piaf, Paul Meurisse was a significant figure in mid-20th century French cinema. His film career spanned several decades, starting in 1941 and establishing him as a prominent performer.
Dec. 22 Lady Bird Johnson
First Lady of the United States who was a prominent environmental activist and played a significant role in beautification efforts across America during her husband Lyndon B. Johnson's presidency.
Dec. 25 Tony Martin
Renowned American singer and actor known for his work in show business, particularly famous for hit songs like 'Tonight We Love'.