Famous people and celebrities born in January 1919

Welcome to our dedicated page for celebrating the notable individuals born in January 1919! 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. 1 Rocky Graziano

  Rocky Graziano was a famous middleweight boxing champion who later became an actor, known for his tough life story and successful boxing career in the 1940s and 1950s.

• Jan. 1 Carole Landis

  Carole Landis was a prominent Hollywood actress and pin-up model during World War II, known for her roles in comedies and dramas, who tragically died by suicide at age 29.

• Jan. 1 J D Salinger

  J.D. Salinger was an iconic American novelist best known for his groundbreaking novel 'The Catcher in the Rye', which profoundly influenced 20th-century literature and youth culture.

• Jan. 1 Sheila Mercier

  Sheila Mercier was a beloved British television actress best known for her long-running role in the popular soap opera 'Emmerdale Farm'.

• Jan. 5 Herb Peterson

  American businessman and innovator who created the iconic McDonald's Egg McMuffin, revolutionizing fast food breakfast options.

• Jan. 5 Jacques Laurent

  French essayist, journalist, and novelist known for his prolific writing across multiple genres and use of various pseudonyms. He was a significant figure in 20th-century French literature and screenwriting.

• Jan. 5 Al Blozis

  American track and field athlete who competed in the early mid-20th century, representing athletic excellence of his era.

• Jan. 5 Severino Gazzelloni

  Renowned Italian flute player who was a significant classical musician in the 20th century, known for his exceptional technique and interpretations.

• Jan. 6 Sylvia Syms US singer (Hello Dolly

  An American singer known for her performances in musical theater, particularly in 'Hello Dolly'.

• Jan. 7 Robert Duncan

  Robert Duncan was a significant American poet associated with the San Francisco Renaissance and Black Mountain School of poetry. He was a pioneering figure in experimental and open form poetry, known for his innovative and influential literary contributions. His work 'The Venice Poem' (1948) is considered a notable example of his poetic style.

• Jan. 9 William Morris Meredith

  William Morris Meredith Jr. was an accomplished American poet and academic who won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry and served as the Poet Laureate of the United States. He was known for his elegant and introspective poetry that explored themes of human experience and emotion.

• Jan. 10 Terukuni Manzō

  The 38th yokozuna in sumo wrestling, a prestigious rank representing the highest level of achievement in this traditional Japanese sport.

• Jan. 12 Jacques Mauclair

  French character actor known for his versatile roles in cinema during the mid-20th century, appearing in numerous films across several decades.

• Jan. 13 Robert Stack

  Robert Stack was a versatile American actor known for his Emmy-winning role in 'The Untouchables' and Oscar-nominated performance in 'Written on the Wind'. Beyond acting, he was an accomplished sportsman who set world records in skeet shooting and boat racing before becoming a prominent Hollywood actor.

• Jan. 14 Giulio Andreotti

  Prominent Italian Christian Democrat politician who dominated Italian politics from the 1950s to the 1990s, serving as Prime Minister multiple times and known for his complex political influence and controversial connections.

• Jan. 14 Andy Rooney

  Renowned CBS '60 Minutes' commentator famous for his witty, satirical end-of-show segments critiquing everyday life and social issues in America.

• Jan. 15 Maurice Herzog

  Legendary French mountaineer who led the first expedition to summit an 8000m peak (Annapurna) in 1950. His bestselling book about the expedition sold over 12 million copies and became a landmark in mountaineering literature.

• Jan. 17 Tony Golab

  Tony Golab was a prominent Canadian football fullback who played for the Ottawa Rough Riders from 1939 to 1950. He was a key player in the team's Grey Cup successes, winning in 1940 and being a finalist in 1941 and 1948. Golab was honored with inductions into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.

• Jan. 21 Jinx Falkenburg

  Jinx Falkenburg was a prominent American actress and model during the mid-20th century, known for her versatile work in films and television.

• Jan. 21 Eric ''Winkle'' Brown

  Eric 'Winkle' Brown was a legendary British Royal Navy test pilot, renowned for testing over 487 aircraft types and holding multiple world aviation records.

• Jan. 23 Ernie Kovacs

  Pioneering television comedian known for his innovative and surreal comedy style, tragically killed in a car accident in West Los Angeles at the age of 42.

• Jan. 23 Bob Paisley

  Legendary Liverpool FC manager who transformed the club into a dominant force in English and European football during the 1970s and early 1980s.

• Jan. 25 Edwin Newman

  Edwin Newman was a distinguished American broadcast journalist and news anchor for NBC News, renowned for his articulate reporting style and witty commentary on language and communication.

• Jan. 26 Valentino Mazzola

  Legendary Italian soccer player from the Grande Torino team, known for his exceptional skills and tragic death in the Superga air disaster. Father of another famous footballer, Sandro Mazzola.

• Jan. 26 Bill Nicholson

  Iconic English footballer and legendary Tottenham Hotspur manager who significantly shaped the club's history and football strategy in the mid-20th century.

• Jan. 26 Hyun Soong-jong

  South Korean politician who served as the 24th Prime Minister of South Korea, contributing to the country's political landscape during his tenure.

• Jan. 27 Ross Bagdasarian

  American entertainer who created the iconic Alvin and the Chipmunks musical franchise, known for his innovative recording techniques and musical comedy.

• Jan. 28 Gabby Gabreski

  Francis 'Gabby' Gabreski was a renowned American fighter pilot and World War II hero, credited with being one of the top American fighter aces in the European Theater of Operations.

• Jan. 30 Fred Korematsu

  Fred Korematsu was a prominent Japanese American civil rights activist who challenged the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. His landmark Supreme Court case in 1944 became a pivotal moment in the fight against racial discrimination in the United States.

• Jan. 31 Jackie Robinson

  Jackie Robinson was a groundbreaking baseball player who broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball, becoming the first African American to play in the modern era. His courage and exceptional athletic skills with the Brooklyn Dodgers transformed American sports and civil rights. Robinson's legacy extends far beyond baseball, symbolizing racial integration and social progress.