Famous People Born On October 31st

An Italian explorer, Christopher Columbus, wanted to discover a direct water route from Europe to Asia. In his four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean from Spain, however, what he ended up discovering was not Asia, but America. Though he was not the first one to land in America, his historical journey began what eventually turned into Spanish colonization of America.

Marcus Rashford is a prominent football player for the Manchester United Football Club and England national team. He became the youngest British footballer to score in his debut match for England. He uses his popularity to fight against issues like child food poverty and homelessness in the United Kingdom. He is often praised for his political activism.

One of the most popular actors of his generation, Michael Landon appeared on the cover of TV Guide on 22 occasions, the most for an actor and second only to Lucille Ball. Also a singer and director, Landon had a major impact on the film industry, so much so that a community building was named after him following his demise.

A multifaceted personality, Rob Schneider is an actor, comedian, screenwriter, and director. Beginning his career with the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live, he proceeded to act in films, first appearing in supporting roles and then graduating to starring roles. He is an outspoken critic of childhood vaccinations. His daughter, Elle King, is a popular musician.

New Zealand director/producer Peter Jackson is best known for his three-time Academy Award-winning work in The Return of the King, the third part of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The third-highest-grossing director ever, he is also the man behind The Hobbit trilogy and the 2005 film King Kong. 

Piper Perabo is an American actress who garnered wide acclaim for her portrayal of Violet Sanford in the musical comedy-drama film Coyote Ugly. Since then, Perabo has been an important actress in both film and TV industry. Also known for her political activism, Perabo was arrested twice for participating in protests. She also advocates for women empowerment and LGBT rights.

Johannes Vermeer was a Dutch painter renowned for his use of light in paintings. Although he did not achieve fame during his lifetime, Vermeer's works gained popularity in the 19th century. Today, Vermeer is often counted among the greatest painters of the Dutch Golden Age. Over the years, Vermeer's work has inspired artists like Wilhelm Hammershoi and Thomas Wilmer Dewing.

Michael Collins is an American astronaut who became the fourth person to perform a spacewalk. He is also the second person to orbit the Moon alone. Collins is best known for flying the Apollo 11 command module Columbia while Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong landed on the Moon. In 1969, Michael Collins was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Dermot Mulroney is an American actor best known for his work in the Western, romantic comedy, and drama films. Also an acclaimed cellist, Mulroney has played the cello in movies like Star Trek Into Darkness and Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. Also known for his looks, he was named in People magazine's Sexiest Men of the Year list in 2005.

Danielle Rose Russell is an American actress known for portraying supporting roles in movies like A Walk Among the Tombstones and Pandemic. After starting her career as a model, Russell pursued regional theater before establishing herself as a film and TV actress. In 2019, she was nominated for a Teen Choice Award for her performance in the TV series, Legacies.

Emiliano Sala was an Argentine football player who played for prominent French clubs like Bordeaux and Nantes. He was renowned for his powerful strike and eye for goal. In 2019, he was included in the Nantes Team of the Decade. Emiliano Sala died in a plane crash on 21 January 2019. His body was recovered four days after the crash.

Nadine Lustre is a Filipina actress, music video director, and singer best known for her portrayal of Eya Rodriguez in the 2014 romantic comedy film, Diary ng Panget. One of the most decorated Filipina celebrities, Lustre has won several prestigious awards, such as the Young Critics Circle award, Asian Academy Creative Award, Myx Music Awards, and Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award.

Chiang Kai-shek was a Chinese revolutionary who led the Republic of China between 1928 and 1975, first in mainland China until 1949 and later on in Taiwan until his death. He is credited with successfully leading the Northern Expedition against the Beiyang government, achieving Chinese unification. He was involved in a civil war with Communist Party of China, which he lost in 1949 and retreated to Taiwan.

The daughter of popular American actors, Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith, Willow Smith has established herself as a singer-songwriter and rapper. Mentored by rapper Jay-Z, Smith became the youngest artist to be signed to the former's label Roc Nation in 2010. In 2019, she came out as bisexual and expressed her desire to be in a polyamorous relationship.

Katsushika Hokusai was a Japanese printmaker, ukiyo-e painter, and artist of the Edo period. He is best known as the creator of the monumental Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, a series of landscape prints, which includes the iconic print, The Great Wave off Kanagawa. He is credited with transforming the ukiyo-e art form to include a much broader style of art.

Nick Saban is an American football coach who is currently serving as the head coach for the University of Alabama. He has also served as the head coach for the NFL team Miami Dolphins. Widely regarded as the greatest coach in the history of college football Saban was made an inductee of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.

Eddie Kaye Thomas is an American actor best known for playing Paul Finch in the popular comedy film series, American Pie. His performance in the first film of the series earned him a Young Hollywood Award nomination in 2000. After starting his stage acting career at the age of seven, Thomas went on to establish himself in the film and TV industry.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was an Indian politician who played an influential role in the Indian independence movement. Dubbed the Iron Man of India and Unifier of India, Sardar Patel played an important role in integrating various princely states into a united, independent nation. In 2018, the world's tallest statue called the Statue of Unity was dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

A founding member of the the pop band Ace is Base, Linn Berggren as a child wanted to sing, but did not want to become a singer. Yet, she went on to become the principal lead vocalist for the majority of their singles and was generally the focus in the video. She quit her stellar career suddenly in 2007 to lead a quiet life.

Known for his 12-year stint with Manchester United, Irish footballer Denis Irwin established himself as a dependable left-back, winning many championships with the club, such as the Premier League and the FA Cup. Post-retirement, he launched a successful media career as a sports presenter on channels such as MUTV.

Psychologist Harry Harlow proved that monkeys raised without their mothers exhibited abnormal psychological development. He had a long association with the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he conducted most of his experiments. He was criticized for using dramatic names, such as “pit of despair,” for his experimental devices.

Debbie McGee is an English radio, television, and stage performer. She is best known as the widow of magician Paul Daniels, with whom she often appeared on stage. A former ballet dancer, Debbie McGee worked as an artistic director for three years in her own ballet company. She then went on to achieve popularity as a TV and radio personality.