Famous people and celebrities born in 1926

We celebrate the remarkable individuals born in 1926. 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 1926 and honor the stars who continue to shine brightly today.

Jan. 3 George Martin
Legendary record producer known as 'the Fifth Beatle' who profoundly influenced the sound of the Beatles and modern popular music. He produced numerous groundbreaking albums and was instrumental in the band's artistic evolution. [bio]
Jan. 6 Mickey Hargitay
Renowned bodybuilder and Mr. Universe (1955) who was famously married to Hollywood actress Jayne Mansfield. He was part of Mae West's entourage and had a notable career in physical culture and entertainment.
Jan. 15 Maria Schell
Maria Schell was a renowned Austrian-Swiss actress and film producer who had a significant career in European cinema during the mid-20th century. She was known for her powerful performances in international films and won numerous awards for her acting. Her career spanned several decades, making her a prominent figure in post-war European cinema.
Jan. 17 Moira Shearer
A renowned Scottish ballerina and actress, Moira Shearer was a principal dancer with Sadler's Wells Ballet and gained international fame through her iconic role in the film 'The Red Shoes'.
Jan. 19 Fritz Weaver
Accomplished American stage and screen actor known for his versatile performances in theater, television, and film during the mid-20th century.
Jan. 20 Patricia Neal
Acclaimed American actress who won two Academy Awards, including Best Actress for 'Hud' in 1963 and Best Supporting Actress for 'The Subject Was Roses' in 1968. She was a prominent Broadway and Hollywood star known for her powerful performances.
Jan. 21 Steve Reeves
Iconic bodybuilder and actor who became a major star in Italian muscle-man films of the 1950s and 1960s, particularly known for his portrayal of Hercules. He was Mr. America in 1947 and Mr. Universe in 1950, setting new standards for physical fitness and bodybuilding.
Jan. 27 Ingrid Thulin
Ingrid Thulin was a renowned Swedish actress who collaborated extensively with legendary filmmaker Ingmar Bergman, starring in iconic films like 'The Silence' and 'Winter Light'. She was a key figure in the Swedish New Wave cinema of the 1960s and known for her intense, nuanced performances.
Jan. 29 Abdus Salam
Pakistani theoretical physicist who made groundbreaking contributions to electroweak unification theory, winning the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1979. He was a pivotal figure in advancing scientific understanding of fundamental particle interactions. His work significantly impacted theoretical physics and quantum mechanics. [bio]
Feb. 11 Leslie Nielsen
Canadian-American comedy actor famous for his deadpan humor in iconic parody films like 'Airplane!' and 'Police Squad'. He transformed his earlier serious acting career into a legendary comedic persona in the 1980s. Nielsen received a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame, cementing his status as a comedy legend.
Feb. 28 Svetlana Alliluyeva
Daughter of Joseph Stalin who defected to the West, became a prominent writer and critic of the Soviet regime, and authored several influential autobiographical works.
March 6 Alan Greenspan
Highly influential American economist who served as Chairman of the Federal Reserve from 1987 to 2006, playing a crucial role in shaping U.S. monetary policy during critical economic periods.
March 16 Jerry Lewis
Legendary American comedian, actor, and filmmaker famous for his comedic partnership with Dean Martin and his groundbreaking muscular dystrophy telethons. He was a pivotal figure in comedy and entertainment during the mid-20th century, known for his slapstick humor and philanthropic work.
March 18 Peter Graves
Peter Graves was an acclaimed American actor best known for his iconic role as Jim Phelps in the popular television series 'Mission: Impossible'. He was a prominent figure in television and film during the mid-20th century.
April 3 Virgil Grissom in Mitchell
NASA astronaut and one of the original Mercury Seven, tragically killed during the Apollo 1 pre-launch test in 1967. [bio]
April 5 Roger Corman
Legendary American film director and producer known for pioneering low-budget B-movies in horror and science fiction genres. He significantly influenced independent cinema and launched the careers of many famous directors like Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola.
April 12 Jane Withers
Jane Withers was a prominent child actress in Hollywood's Golden Age, known for her spirited performances and successful transition from child star to character actress. She was particularly famous for her roles opposite Shirley Temple and later became a successful television commercial personality.
April 14 Gloria Jean
Gloria Jean was an American actress and singer who was prominent in Hollywood during the 1930s and 1940s. She appeared in numerous films and was known for her musical performances.
April 21 Elizabeth II
Queen of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth realms from 1952 to 2022, she was the longest-reigning monarch in British history and a symbol of stability during significant global changes. [bio]
April 28 Harper Lee
American author of "to kill a mockingbird", a 1961 pulitzer prize winning novel. the oscar-winning film starring gregory peck was made from the novel in 1961. it has been translated into ten languages, with a 74th printing of 1974.
April 30 Cloris Leachman
Acclaimed American actress known for her iconic role in 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' and her Oscar-winning performance in 'The Last Picture Show'. She was a versatile talent with multiple Emmy Awards and a significant impact on television and film. [bio]
May 8 David Attenborough
A world-renowned British naturalist, broadcaster, and documentary filmmaker who has significantly contributed to public understanding of natural history and environmental conservation. [bio]
May 8 Don Rickles
Don Rickles was a legendary American comedian renowned for his sharp, insult-based comedy style, who became an iconic figure in stand-up comedy and entertainment.
May 14 Eric Morecambe
Eric Morecambe was a legendary British comedian who formed the iconic comedy duo Morecambe and Wise with Ernie Wise. Their comedy partnership spanned decades and became a beloved part of British entertainment, with their Christmas specials drawing massive audiences.
May 24 Stanley Baxter
Renowned Scottish comedian and actor famous for his annual one-man comedy shows featuring elaborate sketches and impressions. His extravagant performances were celebrated in a TV tribute in 2001, marking his significant contribution to British comedy.
May 25 Miles Davis
Legendary jazz trumpeter and composer who revolutionized jazz music through multiple innovative styles, profoundly influencing 20th-century music across cool jazz, hard bop, modal jazz, and free jazz. [bio]
June 13 Paul Lynde
Paul Lynde was a renowned American comedian and actor, best known for his iconic role on 'Hollywood Squares' and as a memorable character actor in television and film. He was a witty performer who made numerous guest appearances and starred in his own TV series in the 1970s.
June 28 Mel Brooks
Renowned American comedian, filmmaker, actor, and producer known for iconic comedy films like 'Blazing Saddles' and 'Young Frankenstein'. He is a legendary figure in comedy and has won multiple awards including an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy, and Tony. [bio]
July 10 Fred Gwynne
Fred Gwynne was an iconic American actor and comedian best known for his memorable role as Herman Munster in the classic TV series 'The Munsters'. He was also famous for his role in the comedy series 'Car 54, Where Are You?'
July 21 Norman Jewison
Renowned Canadian-American film director and producer who significantly influenced cinema in the 1960s and 1970s, known for critically acclaimed films like 'In the Heat of the Night' and 'Fiddler on the Roof'.
July 27 James Best
James Best was an American character actor best known for his comedic role as Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane in the popular television series 'The Dukes of Hazzard', which aired from 1979 to 1985. He appeared in numerous films and TV shows throughout his five-decade career, including Alfred Hitchcock's 'The Man Who Knew Too Much'.
Aug. 8 Richard Anderson
American actor best known for playing Oscar Goldman in the popular 1970s TV series 'The Six Million Dollar Man' and 'The Bionic Woman'. He was briefly married to a child of actress Norma Shearer.
Aug. 12 John Derek
American actor and director who rose to prominence after his 1944 film debut and was named the 'most popular find of 1949'. He starred in notable films like 'All the King's Men' and 'Rogues of Sherwood Forest'.
Aug. 14 Lina Wertmüller
Pioneering Italian film director known for her provocative and politically charged cinema, first woman nominated for a Best Director Oscar.
Sept. 3 Irene Papas
Renowned Greek actress and singer, famous for her powerful performances in international cinema and Greek theater.
Sept. 19 James Lipton
Renowned American television host, actor, writer, and producer best known for creating and hosting 'Inside the Actors Studio', a long-running interview program featuring prominent actors and filmmakers.
Sept. 21 Noor Jehan
Legendary Pakistani actress and singer who was a prominent cultural icon in the mid-20th century, known for her powerful voice and significant contributions to South Asian entertainment.
Sept. 23 John Coltrane
John Coltrane was a legendary jazz saxophonist and composer who revolutionized modern jazz with his innovative improvisational style. He collaborated with other jazz giants like Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie, creating groundbreaking music that transcended traditional jazz boundaries. His influential work continues to inspire musicians across generations. [bio]
Sept. 26 Julie London
Renowned American actress and jazz singer known for her sultry voice and hit song "Cry Me a River". She released five albums in the 1950s and appeared in several films, including "Task Force" and "On Stage Everybody".
Oct. 15 Michel Foucault
Michel Foucault was a groundbreaking French philosopher who revolutionized understanding of power, knowledge, and social institutions. He held a prestigious chair at the Collège de France and wrote seminal works like 'Madness and Civilization' and 'The Archaeology of Knowledge'. [bio]
Oct. 15 Evan Hunter
Evan Hunter was a prolific American novelist best known for writing 'The Blackboard Jungle' and for his crime fiction under the pseudonym Ed McBain. He was a significant literary figure who made substantial contributions to crime and mainstream fiction.
Oct. 15 Jean Peters
Jean Peters was a prominent Hollywood actress of the 1950s, known for her roles in films like 'Viva Zapata' and 'Three Coins in the Fountain'. She was discovered through a campus contest and signed with 20th Century Fox, becoming a notable star of her era.
Oct. 21 Leonard Rossiter
British comedy actor known for roles in sitcoms like 'Rising Damp' and 'The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin'. He was a prominent television and stage performer in the 1970s and early 1980s.
Oct. 25 Galina Vishnevskaya
Renowned Russian operatic soprano famous for her powerful performances, particularly in Madama Butterfly. She was a celebrated artist of the Bolshoi Theatre and an internationally recognized classical music icon.
Nov. 7 Joan Sutherland
Joan Sutherland was a legendary Australian operatic soprano known as 'La Stupenda', renowned for her extraordinary coloratura technique and international acclaim. She performed over 1,800 times during her 45-year career and was made a Dame of the British Empire in 1979. Her autobiography 'The Progress of a Prima Donna' was published in 1997.
Nov. 25 Jeffrey Hunter
American actor best known for playing Captain Christopher Pike in the original Star Trek pilot 'The Cage', and for roles in films like 'The Searchers'. Died young at 43 from a brain hemorrhage.
Nov. 30 Richard Crenna
Versatile American actor known for comedic roles in radio and television, particularly famous for his work in 'Our Miss Brooks' and later dramatic roles in films like the Rambo series.
Dec. 1 Keith Michell
Renowned Australian actor famous for portraying Henry VIII in multiple productions, including the acclaimed TV series 'The Six Wives of Henry VIII'.
Dec. 23 Robert Bly
Influential American poet, translator, and key figure in the men's movement who wrote the groundbreaking book 'Iron John', exploring masculine psychology through Jungian and mythological perspectives.