Famous People Born On February 8th

Best remembered for his role in the film, Rebel Without a Cause, actor James Dean was a cultural icon of teenage disillusionment. Despite having a difficult childhood, he was an exceptional student. He began acting as a young man and was quite successful. Sadly, he was killed in a car crash at the young age of 24.

Golden State Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson has won three NBA championships with the team. The five-time NBA All-Star is the son of former basketball player Mychal Thompson. He and Stephen Curry were known as “the Splash Brothers” for setting an NBA record of combined three-pointers, in 2014.

John Williams is an American composer, pianist, trombonist, and conductor. Widely considered the greatest film composer ever, John Williams has played a significant role in the American film industry by composing music for films, such as the Jurassic Park films, Star Wars saga, the Indiana Jones films, and Schindler's List. He has also influenced several other composers like Marcus Paus.

Mary Steenburgen is an American actress and musician. Also an active humanitarian, Steenburgen has been involved with several groups that work towards the welfare of people and the environment. In 2005, she inspired students at the Clinton School of Public Service with her lecture on students' role in public service.

Big Show is a professional wrestler. Known for his large frame and athleticism, Show is one of the most popular WWE wrestlers of all time. He has won several world championships in WWE. Big Show's large frame is attributed to a condition called acromegaly, which he used to his advantage and established himself in the wrestling world.

Bella Poarch is a Filipino-American singer and social media influencer. She is best known for posting videos on TikTok. She came into prominence in 2021, when one of her TikTok videos hit 49 million likes, making it the most liked video on the platform. The same year, Bella Poarch released her debut single titled Build a Bitch. 

Bethany Hamilton is an American surfer. She serves as an inspiration to many surfers around the world as she returned to professional surfing even after surviving a shark attack in which she lost her left arm. Her 2004 autobiography, which narrates her experience, was adapted into a film titled Soul Surfer in which Bethany Hamilton was portrayed by AnnaSophia Robb.

Widely regarded as a legend of classical Hollywood cinema, Lana Turner was one of the most prominent and highest-paid actresses in the mid-1940s. Also considered a popular culture icon of Hollywood glamor, Turner also achieved success as a pin-up model. Her life and career have inspired several works across art, literature, music, and film. 

Cecily Strong is an American comedian and actress best known for her work in the popular sketch comedy and variety show Saturday Night Live. In 2015, she was part of the White House Correspondents' Association dinner where she was the featured entertainer; she took digs at the US Secret Service, news organizations, the state of Indiana, and President Barack Obama.

Seth Green is a popular American actor and voice artist who is credited with co-creating the famous adult animated comedy TV series Robot Chicken for Adult Swim. As a voice actor, Seth Green has contributed immensely to the success of series, Family Guy.

Nick Nolte, once a model, was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 1992. He is known for his Golden Globe-winning and Academy Award-nominated role in The Prince of Tides. Fans adored him as Kuiil in The Mandalorian and in the films Affliction and Warrior. He has struggled with substance abuse.

Vince Neil, lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Mötley Crüe, had a successful solo career too, with albums such as Tattoos & Tequila. He owns several businesses, including a tattoo parlor and a vineyard. He was imprisoned for vehicular manslaughter in the death of Hanoi Rocks drummer Razzle.

Kimbo Slice, dubbed The King of the Web Brawlers by Rolling Stone, gained fame for his mutual combat street fights. He dabbled in MMA, boxing, and wrestling, eventually signing with EliteXC and competing in UFC. A little over a year after signing with Bellator MMA, he died of heart failure.

The leading English art critic of the Victorian era, John Ruskin was a hugely influential figure in the latter half of the 19th century. Also a philosopher and prominent social thinker, he wrote on varied subjects like geology, architecture, education, botany, myth, ornithology, literature, and political economy. He founded the charitable trust Guild of St George.

Terry Melcher was an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. Melcher played a key role in shaping the California Sound and folk rock movements of the 1960s. He is also credited with forming the popular rock music duo Bruce & Terry along with Bruce Johnston. Melcher is also known for his association with The Byrds and Charles Manson.

Audrey Meadows was an American actress best remembered for her portrayal of Alice Kramden in the popular television sitcom, The Honeymooners. Also a banker, Audrey Meadows was the first woman to serve as the director of the First National Bank of Denver, a position which she held for 11 years.

French musician, singer-songwriter, record-producer, DJ, and film director Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo is one former half of the French electronic music duo Daft Punk that he formed with Thomas Bangalter. The duo achieved both critical and commercial success with albums like Discovery and RandomAccess Memories. Homem-Christo has also spawned works through the record label Crydamoure which he co-owns with Eric Chedeville.

The fourth son of Emperor Manuel II, Constantine XI Palaiologos was the last Byzantine emperor. He died in combat, while defending the city of Constantinople against the Ottoman Turks. In Greek folklore, he is known as the Marble Emperor, referring to a legend that he had turned into marble after his death.

Daniel Bernoulli was a Swiss physicist and mathematician. Born into the popular Bernoulli family of mathematicians, Daniel Bernoulli is renowned for his applications of mathematical equations to mechanics. He is also remembered for his pioneering work in statistics and probability. In 2002, he was inducted into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame.

Jaden Hossler is an American singer, social media personality, and songwriter. He is best known for creating content on platforms like TikTok. After achieving popularity as a TikToker, Hossler established himself as a singer; he released his debut single Comatose in 2020. In 2021, Jaden Hossler was nominated at the MTV Video Music Awards for Push Performance of the Year.      

Ted Koppel is an American broadcast journalist who contributed immensely to the success of the popular late-night television news program Nightline, working as its anchor from 1980 to 2005. Considered one of the most remarkable among the serious-minded interviewers on TV, Ted Koppel has won several prestigious awards, including 42 Emmy Awards and nine Overseas Press Club awards.