Famous People Born On February 26th

Johnny Cash, the American singer, songwriter and actor, was known for sorrow, moral suffering and redemption themes in his music. His genre was country, rock and roll, blues, folk and gospel sounds and he is one of the best-selling artists of all time. Cash had issues with drinking and drug abuse. Later he was diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disease.

After gaining worldwide recognition for his performance in the movie Star Trek, Chris Pine went on to play prominent roles in popular films. Also known for voicing his opinion on politics, Pine endorsed the Trek Against Trump movement during the 2016 presidential campaign. In 2020, he acted in Home Movie: The Princess Bride to raise fund for World Central Kitchen.

Victor Hugo was a French poet, dramatist, and novelist of the Romantic movement. Regarded as one of the best-known and greatest French writers of all time, Victor Hugo wrote abundantly during his career that spanned over six decades. Thanks to his works, such as Hernani and Cromwell, Victor Hugo was one of the leading figures of the Romantic literary movement.

Former Norwegian football player, Ole Gunnar Solskjær was one of the most successful players of Manchester United and scored 126 goals for it. He famously scored the winning goal against Bayern Munich in the 1999 Champions League final to secure a treble for the Manchester United. Post retirement, he began his coaching career and is currently the manager of Manchester United.

Widely regarded as the queen of neo-soul, Erykah Badu is an American singer-songwriter whose debut studio album Baduizm helped popularize neo-soul in the late-1990s. Thanks to her popularity, Erykah Badu serves as a subject for street art in several places, including Greater London, England. Also an actress, Badu has appeared in popular films, such as The Cider House Rules.

Jackie Gleason was an American actor, writer, comedian, composer, and conductor. Nicknamed The Great One, Jackie Gleason is credited with developing the popular TV series The Jackie Gleason Show, which enjoyed high ratings for nearly two decades. His life and work inspired the 2002 television biopic Gleason in which he was played by comedian and actor Brad Garrett.

Michael Bolton is an American singer-songwriter who has sold over 75 million records so far. Apart from recording several top 10 albums on the Billboard charts, Bolton also has several prestigious awards under his belt, such as Grammy Awards. Also known for his charity work, Bolton set up the Michael Bolton Foundation in order to aid children and women.

Nate Ruess is best known as the lead vocalist of the Grammy-winning indie-pop band Fun and of the indie-rock band The Format. He is part of the labor-oriented non-profit organization Democratic Socialists of America. He was featured on Pink’s multi-platinum track Just Give Me a Reason and Eminem’s hit Headlights.

Tony Randall is best remembered as Felix Unger from the sitcom The Odd Couple, based on the 1965 play of the same name, also winning an Emmy for the role. He also appeared in series such as Love, Sidney and delivered Golden Globe-nominated roles in films such as Pillow Talk.

Record producer and songwriter Karl Martin Sandberg, better known as Max Martin, has created many 90s’ masterpieces such as Baby One More Time by Britney Spears and I Want It That Way by Backstreet Boys. He is also an 11-time winner of the ASCAP Songwriter of the Year award.

James Wan is an Australian screenwriter, film director, comic book writer, and producer. He is credited with creating or co-creating the popular Insidious, Saw, and The Conjuring Universe franchises. An exponent of the horror genre, James Wan established the Atomic Monster Productions, which produces television and film projects. He is also one of the most successful filmmakers of his generation.

Mark Dacascos is an actor, trained martial artist, and TV personality. He is proficient in the Wun Hop Kuen Do style of martial arts and has won several karate and kung fu championships. As an actor, he is best known for his role in the action-horror film Brotherhood of the Wolf. He is married to actress Julie Condra.  

Pepe is a football player who plays for the Portugal national team and FC Porto. Counted among the leading defenders of his generation, Pepe played important roles in Portugal's championship-winning performances in the 2016 UEFA European Championship and the 2019 UEFA Nations League. He was named Süper Lig Defender of the Year in 2018.

Levi Strauss, the man behind the iconic clothing brand Levi Strauss & Co., or Levi's, which was also the first blue-jeans-manufacturing firm, was born in Germany and later moved to the US. It is rumored that his jeans were meant for the labor class, and he himself had never worn a pair.

Beren Saat is a Turkish actress who has received critical appreciation for her acting since the beginning of her acting career. Some of the awards which she has won include Latina Turkish Awards and Golden Butterfly Awards. From 2008 to 2014, she was the highest-paid Turkish actress. Also known for her philanthropic efforts, Saat works closely with many charity organizations.

Erinn Bartlett is an American actress and beauty pageant titleholder. In 1991, she was crowned Miss Massachusetts Teen USA after which she went on to participate in the Miss Teen USA beauty pageant. She also established herself as an actress, appearing in TV series, such as CSI: Miami, How I Met Your Mother, and Rules of Engagement.

English playwright, poet, and translator, Christopher Marlowe, was one of the major literary figures of the Elizabethan era. It is believed that he greatly influenced his contemporary William Shakespeare. He led a troubled life and died young under mysterious circumstances. Despite his early death, he is regarded as one of the foremost dramatists of the 16th century London.  

Kazuyoshi Miura is a professional Japanese footballer for who age is truly just a number. He is above 50 and continues to be an active player , He holds the global record as the oldest player to score a goal in a professional soccer league. Associated with Yokohama FC, he played for Japan’s national team for a decade, scoring 55 goals from 89 matches.

Jonathan Cain is a singer-songwriter and musician. He is a keyboardist for the rock band Journey. Interested in music from a young age, he attended the Chicago Conservatory of Music. He began his professional music career in the mid-1970s and played with numerous bands before joining Journey. He is also a solo artist and owns a recording studio. 

Second only to Walt Disney in terms of influence, American animator and director Tex Avery is remembered for playing an important role in the development of  popular characters like Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Droopy, Screwy Squirrel  etc. Well-known for his technical innovation and directorial style, his characters are equally loved by adults for their inherent sarcasm.  

Li Na is a Chinese former tennis player. A former world No. 2, Li Na won two Grand Slam singles titles over the course of her career. She achieved international recognition in 2011 after becoming the first Asian Grand Slam singles champion. In 2019, she became the first Asian-born player to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. 

Shiloh Fernandez is an American actor known for his performance in TV series like United States of Tara and Jericho. Apart from acting, Fernandez has also tried his hand at production and screenwriting; he made his debut as a producer and screenwriter in the 2014 drama film Queen of Carthage, in which he also played the lead role of Amos.