Famous People Born In 1923

Discover the most famous people born in 1923. The list includes people like Estelle Getty, Henry Kissinger, Hank Williams, Charlton Heston, Rocky Marciano and many more. This list of celebrities is loosely sorted by popularity. People featured on this list, include political leaders, soldiers, journalists and novelists born in 1923. This list includes people from United States, United Kingdom, Germany & Italy and many more countries.
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 1 
Hank Williams
(One of the Most Significant and Influential Singers and Songwriters of the 20th Century)
Hank Williams
35
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: 17th September
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Mount Olive, Alabama, United States
Died: January 1, 1953

Musician Hank Williams is widely considered one of the most influential and significant American singer-songwriters of the 20th century. Hank Williams influenced several singers, such as Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Johnny Cash, and Charley Pride to name a few. Since his untimely death at the age of 29, many artists have released tribute albums honoring Hank Williams.  

 2 
Bob Barker
(Television Game Show Host)
Bob Barker
30
Listed In: Entertainers
Birthdate: 12th December
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Darrington, Washington, United States

Bob Barker is a retired TV game show host. Barker is credited with making CBS's The Price Is Right the longest-running daytime game show in the history of North American television, hosting the show from 1972 to 2007. Also an animal rights activist, Barker has supported groups like the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and the United Activists for Animal Rights.

 3 
Estelle Getty
(Actress and Comedian Known for Her Role as ‘Sophia Petrillo’ in the TV Series ‘The Golden Girls’)
Estelle Getty
31
Birthdate: 25th July
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Manhattan, New York, United States
Died: July 22, 2008
Estelle Getty is best known for her Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning performance as Sophia Petrillo in The Golden Girls. Fans also loved her in Mask and Stuart Little. She also wrote an autobiography, released an exercise video for the elderly, and helped set up a hospice for AIDS patients.
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 4 
Richard Attenborough
(English Actor & Filmmaker)
Richard Attenborough
31
Birthdate: 29th August
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Cambridge, England, United Kingdom
Died: August 24, 2014

Richard Attenborough is credited with making one of the greatest films of all time - Gandhi. Also an actor, Richard served as the president of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Apart from being honored by the British royalty, he was also honored with India's third-highest civilian award, The Padma Bhushan.

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 5 
Charlton Heston
(Actor and Political Activist )
Charlton Heston
39
Listed In: Activists
Birthdate: 4th October
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Evanston, Illinois, United States
Died: April 5, 2008

Charlton Heston was an American actor whose cinematic legacy became the subject of an 11-film retrospective titled Cinematic Atlas: The Triumphs of Charlton Heston. Also a political activist, Charlton Heston was one of the few Hollywood actors to criticize racism in the 1950s and 1960s; he was also a supporter of the Civil Rights Movement.

 6 
Chuck Yeager
(American Test Pilot and the First Air Force Officer to Exceed the Speed of Sound in Flight)
Chuck Yeager
14
Birthdate: 13th February
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Myra, West Virginia, United States
Died: December 7, 2020
U.S. Air Force pilot Chuck Yeager was the first human to break the sound barrier, when he flew the Bell X-1 in 1947. He was a P-51 Mustang fighter pilot in World War II and also fought in the Vietnam War. He inspired the novel and movie The Right Stuff.
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 7 
Alan Shepard
(Astronaut, Aviator, Entrepreneur)
Alan Shepard
19
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: 18th November
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Derry
Died: July 21, 1998

Alan Shepard was an astronaut and the first American to travel into space. In 1971, Shepard became the fifth and oldest astronaut to walk on the Moon; he was 47 years and 80 days old at that time. From 1963 to 1969, he played an important role as the Chief of the Astronaut Office. His work inspired several TV series.

 8 
Carroll Shelby
(Automotive Designer & Racing Driver)
Carroll Shelby
24
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: 11th January
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Leesburg, Texas, United States
Died: May 10, 2012

An automobile designer known for his involvement with the AC Shelby Cobra and Ford Mustang, Carroll Shelby was also a well-known racing driver, and a successful entrepreneur, who established Shelby American after a heart ailment put an end to his racing career.  Meanwhile, he also ran a a high-performance driving school and published a memoir entitled The Carroll Shelby Story.

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 9 
Lee Kuan Yew
(Founding Father of Modern Singapore)
Lee Kuan Yew
24
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: 16th September
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Singapore, Straits Settlements
Died: March 23, 2015

Lawyer-turned-politician Lee Kuan Yew, also known as LKY, was the first prime minister of Singapore, from 1959 to 1990. He established the People's Action Party. He later also served as his country’s Senior Minister and Minister Mentor. He was also part of David Rockefeller's International Council and Forbes's Brain Trust.

 10 
James Arness
(Actor)
James Arness
21
Listed In: Actors
Birthdate: 26th May
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Died: June 3, 2011
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 11 
Bob Dole
(United States Senator from Kansas from 1969 to 1996)
Bob Dole
27
Birthdate: 22nd July
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Russell, Kansas, United States
Died: December 5, 2021

Bob Dole is an American retired politician who remains active in public life. Before commencing his political career, Dole served in the United States Army during World War II. For his service in the army and later as a politician, Bob Dole has been honored with several prestigious awards, such as the Presidential Medal of Freedom and Presidential Citizens Medal.

 12 
Rocky Marciano
(One of the Greatest Heavyweight Boxers of All Time)
Rocky Marciano
134
Listed In: Boxers
Birthdate: 1st September
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Brockton, Massachusetts, United States
Died: August 31, 1969
Rocky Marciano, also known as the Brockton Blockbuster, was the world’s only heavyweight champion to remain undefeated till the end of his career and held the heavyweight title from 1952 to 1956. The International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee held the world’s highest heavyweight knockout-to-win ratio at 85.71%.
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 13 
Anne Baxter
(American Actress Who Starred in Hollywood Films, Broadway Productions and TV Series)
Anne Baxter
28
Listed In: Actresses
Birthdate: 7th May
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Michigan City, Indiana, United States
Died: December 12, 1985

Anne Baxter is best remembered for her Academy Award- and Golden Globe-winning performance as Sophie MacDonald in The Razor's Edge. Her other notable projects were the film All About Eve and the series The Name of the Game. She also actively participated in Republican campaigns.

 14 
Maria Callas
(One of the Most Renowned and Influential Opera Singers of the 20th Century)
Maria Callas
25
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: 2nd December
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: New York City, United States
Died: September 16, 1977
Greek soprano Maria Callas, also known as “La Divina,” is considered one of the greatest opera singers of the 20th century. The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award-winner was also in the news for her affair with shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, her rivalry with Renata Tebaldi, and her gradually declining vocal ability.
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 15 
Jean Stapleton
6
Listed In: Actresses
Birthdate: 19th January
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Manhattan, New York City, New York
Died: May 31, 2013

Jean Stapleton was an American actress best known for her portrayal of Edith Bunker in the popular sitcom, All in the Family, for which she won two Golden Globe Awards and three Emmy Awards. In 2002, she was inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame as well as the Television Hall of Fame.

 16 
Peter Lawford
(Actor and a Member of the 'Rat-Pack' Group of Entertainers)
Peter Lawford
15
Birthdate: 7th September
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: London, England
Died: December 24, 1984

Peter Lawford, a member of the "Rat Pack,” appeared in quite a few MGM films such as Son of Lassie and Two Sisters from Boston. He also appeared in series such as The Thin Man. His first wife, Patricia Helen Kennedy, was the sister of John F. Kennedy.

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 17 
Bettie Page
(American Model who Gained Notoriety in the 1950s for her Pin-Up Photos)
Bettie Page
17
Listed In: Models
Birthdate: 22nd April
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Nashville, Tennessee, US
Died: December 11, 2008

Model Bettie Page was an iconic figure in pop culture in the 1950s. Considered a sex symbol, she was most popular for her pin-up photos. In 1955, she became one of the earliest Playmates of the Month for Playboy magazine. After a short but immensely successful modeling career, she converted to Christianity and quit modeling.

 18 
Cliff Robertson
7
Listed In: Actors
Birthdate: 9th September
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: La Jolla
Died: September 10, 2011

Cliff Robertson was an American actor whose career spanned half a century. He is best known for his portrayal of Charly Gordon in the 1968 drama film Charly, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor. Also a well-known aviator, Robertson owned several aircraft, such as a Messerschmitt Bf 108 and multiple de Havilland Tiger Moths.

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 19 
Gloria Grahame
(Actress)
Gloria Grahame
9
Listed In: Actresses
Birthdate: 28th November
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
Died: October 5, 1981
 20 
Ted Knight
(Known for Playing Comedic Roles in Various Sitcoms)
Ted Knight
7
Birthdate: 7th December
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Plymouth, Connecticut, United States
Died: August 26, 1986

Ted Knight was an American actor known for portraying comedic roles in TV series like The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Too Close for Comfort. For his contributions to the TV industry, Knight was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in January 1985. After his death, his hometown of Terryville dedicated a bridge in his memory.

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 21 
Dale Robertson
(Best Known for His Roles in the TV Series ‘Tales of Wells Fargo’ and ‘Iron Horse’)
Dale Robertson
19
Listed In: Actors
Birthdate: 14th July
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Harrah, Oklahoma, United States
Died: February 27, 2013

Dale Robertson was an American actor who achieved popularity in the 1950s, playing important roles in Western films, such as Return of the Texan and The Outcasts of Poker Flat. In 1985, he was honored with a Golden Boot Award for his contribution to Western films and TV series. 

 22 
Ed McMahon
(actor, officer, radio personality)
Ed McMahon
2
Listed In: Comedians
Birthdate: 6th March
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Detroit
Died: June 23, 2009
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 23 
Rose Marie
(Actress)
Rose Marie
2
Birthdate: 15th August
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA
Died: December 28, 2017
 24 
Rainier III, Prince of Monaco
(Prince of Monaco from 1949 to 2005)
Rainier III, Prince of Monaco
7
Listed In: Emperors & Kings
Birthdate: 31st May
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Monaco
Died: April 6, 2005
Rainier III, son of Prince Pierre, was the Prince of Monaco from 1949 to 2005. He reduced Monaco’s dependence on gambling as a source of revenue and made it more of a tourist destination. He also reduced the powers of the royalty. He was married to renowned actor Grace Kelly.
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 25 
Al Lewis
(Actor)
Al Lewis
5
Listed In: Actors
Birthdate: 30th April
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Manhattan, New York, United States
Died: February 3, 2006
 26 
Norman Mailer
(Author of 'The Naked and the Dead', 'Armies of the Night' and 'The Executioner's Song')
Norman Mailer
6
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: 31st January
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Long Branch, New Jersey, United States
Died: November 10, 2007

Norman Mailer was an American journalist, novelist, essayist, filmmaker, actor, and playwright. A prolific writer, Mailer had at least one best-selling book in each of the seven decades post Second World War. Overall, he had 11 best-selling books in a career spanning over 60 years. A recipient of the Pulitzer Prize, Mailer is regarded as an innovator of New Journalism.

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 27 
Charles Durning
(Actor)
Charles Durning
3
Listed In: Actors
Birthdate: 28th February
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Highland Falls, New York, United States
Died: December 24, 2012
 28 
Frank Sutton
(Known for His Role as ‘Sgt. Vince Carter’ in the TV Series ‘Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C..’)
Frank Sutton
11
Listed In: Actors
Birthdate: 23rd October
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Clarksville, Tennessee, United States
Died: June 28, 1974
Frank Sutton is best remembered for his performance as Vince Carter in the series Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. He was a regular guest on Jim Nabors Hour and also appeared in series such as The Untouchables and Love American Style. He had earlier been a Purple Heart- and Bronze Star-winning sergeant. 
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 29 
Don Adams
(Actor Best Known for his Role in the Series 'Get Smart')
Don Adams
6
Birthdate: 13th April
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Manhattan, New York, United States
Died: September 25, 2005
 30 
Jim Reeves
(Singer-Songwriter)
Jim Reeves
9
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: 20th August
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Galloway, Texas, United States
Died: July 31, 1964
 31 
Dina Merrill
(Actress, Socialite, Philanthropist)
Dina Merrill
10
Birthdate: 29th December
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: New York City, New York, U.S.
Died: May 22, 2017
Socialite/actor Dina Merrill was the only child of Post Cereals owner Marjorie Merriweather Post and stockbroker and financier Edward Francis Hutton. Dina served RKO Pictures as their vice chairperson. She also appeared in movies such as The Sundowners and Butterfield 8, and was on the boards of various charitable trusts.
 32 
Marcel Marceau
(French Mime Artist and Actor)
Marcel Marceau
7
Birthdate: 22nd March
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Strasbourg, France
Died: September 22, 2007
 33 
Aaron Spelling
(Film and television producer)
Aaron Spelling
12
Birthdate: 22nd April
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Dallas, Texas, United States
Died: June 23, 2006
 34 
Larry Storch
8
Birthdate: 8th January
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
 35 
Ann Miller
(Actress, Singer)
Ann Miller
6
Listed In: Actresses
Birthdate: 12th April
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Chireno, Texas, United States
Died: January 22, 2004
 36 
Roy Lichtenstein
(American Pop Artist Who Became a Major Figure in the New Art Movement During the 1960s)
Roy Lichtenstein
19
Birthdate: 27th October
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Manhattan, New York, U.S.
Died: September 29, 1997
Roy Lichtenstein was an American pop artist who became a major figure in the new art movement during the 1960s alongside artists like Andy Warhol and James Rosenquist. Among his most famous works are Drowning Girl and Whaam! Roy Lichtenstein was honored with the prestigious National Medal of the Arts in 1995.
 37 
Shimon Peres
(Former President of Israel)
Shimon Peres
17
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: 2nd August
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Wiszniew, Poland
Died: September 28, 2016
Shimon Peres had been both the president and prime minister of Israel (twice). He was also part of five political parties in his 70-year career and had held important cabinet posts such as the minister of finance. He won the Nobel Peace Prize along with Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat.
 38 
Ira Hayes
(Military Leader)
Ira Hayes
16
Listed In: Military Leaders
Birthdate: 12th January
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Sacaton, Arizona, United States
Died: January 24, 1955
 39 
Eugene Sledge
(Biologist, Soldier, Academic, University teacher, Writer)
Eugene Sledge
2
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: 4th November
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Mobile
Died: March 3, 2001

Eugene Sledge was a US Marine, author, and university professor. He is remembered for chronicling his Second World War combat experiences in a memoir titled With the Old Breed, which was used as source material for a television documentary miniseries titled The War. The memoir also inspired the 2010 HBO miniseries, The Pacific, where Sledge was played by Joseph Mazzello.

 40 
William Guarnere
2
Listed In: Soldiers
Birthdate: 28th April
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: March 8, 2014
 41 
Diana Douglas
(Actress)
Diana Douglas
5
Listed In: Actresses
Birthdate: 22nd January
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Devonshire, Bermuda
Died: July 3, 2015
 42 
Jack Hemingway
(Conservationist, Writer)
Jack Hemingway
4
Birthdate: 10th October
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Toronto, Canada
Died: December 1, 2000
 43 
Rhonda Fleming
(Actress)
Rhonda Fleming
6
Birthdate: 10th August
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
Died: October 14, 2020
 44 
Diane Arbus
(Photographer)
Diane Arbus
16
Birthdate: 14th March
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Manhattan, New York, United States
Died: July 26, 1971
 45 
Alice Ghostley
9
Listed In: Actresses
Birthdate: 14th August
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Eve, Missouri
Died: September 21, 2007
 46 
Conrad Bain
(Television Actor)
Conrad Bain
6
Listed In: Actors
Birthdate: 4th February
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Lethbridge, Canada
Died: January 14, 2013
 47 
Wally Schirra
(American Astronaut Who Became the Fifth American and Ninth Human to Travel Into Space)
Wally Schirra
4
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: 12th March
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Hackensack, New Jersey, United States
Died: May 3, 2007

Wally Schirra was an American NASA astronaut, test pilot, and naval aviator. He achieved popularity in 1959, when he became one of the seven astronauts chosen for Project Mercury. In 1962, he was part of Mercury-Atlas 8 and became only the ninth human to travel into space. Wally Schirra was portrayed by Lance Henriksen in the film, The Right Stuff.

 48 
Henry Kissinger
(56th United States Secretary of State (1973-77))
Henry Kissinger
47
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: 27th May
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Fürth, Germany
Died: November 29, 2023

Henry Kissinger's heart-warming story of a Jewish who fled Nazi Germany in 1938 to become an influential politician in the USA is truly inspirational. As a National Security Advisor and US Secretary of State, Kissinger played a key role in the US foreign policy from 1969 to 1977. 

 49 
Ruth Williams Khama
(First Lady of Botswana as the Wife of 1st President Sir Seretse Khama)
Ruth Williams Khama
9
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: 9th December
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Blackheath, London
Died: May 22, 2002
Ruth Williams Khama served as the First Lady of Botswana between 1966 and 1980. The wife of Seretse Khama, Ruth married Seretse at a time when inter-racial marriage was uncommon. Their wedding attracted huge media attention with some calling it one of the greatest love stories ever. Her marriage inspired films like A Marriage of Inconvenience and A United Kingdom.
 50 
Harold Gould
(Actor)
Harold Gould
3
Listed In: Actors
Birthdate: 10th December
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Schenectady, New York, United States
Died: September 11, 2010