Famous People Born In 1938

Christopher Lloyd's popularity as an actor increased after he played Dr. Brown in one of the most popular film trilogies of all time - Back to the Future. The trilogy, which revolves around a time travel device, was responsible for stirring the imagination of many. With four failed marriages, Christopher might've hoped for a time machine in real life!

Kenny Rogers was an American singer-songwriter. He is among the best-selling musicians of all-time list, having sold over 100 million records. His songs and albums remain influential among country music lovers. A multi-talented personality, Rogers was also successful as an actor and entrepreneur; he was the co-founder of the Kenny Rogers Roasters chain of restaurants.

Brian Dennehy was a prolific stage actor with two Tony Awards under his belt. He is credited with exploring playwright Eugene O'Neill’s works and bringing his popular characters to life at Chicago's Goodman Theatre. Also an acclaimed television and film actor, Brian Dennehy appeared in more than 180 films and several TV series.

Evel Knievel was an entertainer and stunt performer. He attempted more than 75 ramp-to-ramp motorcycle jumps in his career, a feat that gained him much popularity. In 1999, he was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame. He was known to be a man of values and actively preached anti-drug messages to youngsters. He also campaigned for motorcycle helmet safety. 

English actress Diana Rigg had a wide-ranging career in films, television and theatre that spanned over six decades. Memorable roles of Diana include Emma Peel in television series The Avengers, which made her a sex-symbol; Mrs. Danvers in television drama Rebecca that won her an Emmy Award; and title role in the play Medea that won her a Tony Award.

Basketball player Jerry West, also known as Mr. Clutch, for his ability to snatch games in clutch situations, is known for his stint with the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA. He was part of the US squads that won an Olympic gold in 1960 and a Pan American Games gold in 1959.

Actress Dawn Wells is best remembered for her role as Mary Ann Summers in the CBS sitcom Gilligan's Island. She studied theater arts and design at the University of Washington and made her TV debut soon after. Venturing into films as well, she went on to build a successful acting career. Besides acting, she was involved in many charitable endeavors.

Etta James was an American singer whose powerful, deep voice bridged the gap between rock and roll and rhythm and blues. Her ability to perform in various genres earned her a spot in Rolling Stone magazine's 100 Greatest Singers of All Time list. Her work has influenced several musicians, including Christina Aguilera, Diana Ross, Janis Joplin, Adele, and Rita Ora.

Soul and R&B legend Bill Withers is best remembered for hits such as Ain't No Sunshine and Lean on Me. The three-time Grammy Award-winner also inspired the documentary Still Bill. A Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Bill moved on to other jobs after his 15-year music career. 

A veteran actor who has been active in Hollywood for almost six decades, Jon Voight is the recipient of one Academy Award and four Golden Globe Awards. Coming to prominence in the late 1960s with several critically acclaimed roles, he went through a lean phase before resurrecting his career. He was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2019.

Elliott Gould is best known for his Academy Award-nominated role in Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice and his perfomances in Robert Altman films such as M*A*S*H, Nashville, and The Long Goodbye. Fans also loved him as Jack Geller in Friends and as Reuben Tishkoff in the Ocean's franchise.

Oliver Reed was an English actor who was considered one of the most bankable actors at the peak of his career. Characterized by his hellraiser lifestyle and macho image, Reed's problem with alcohol addiction was highly publicized and overshadowed his acting achievements. He often got into trouble because of his drinking habit and was once arrested for disturbing the peace.

Born into a Tatar Muslim family, Rudolf Nureyev grew up to gain fans both for his exceptional ballet skills and for his sharp cheek bones. One of the greatest male ballet dancers ever, he gained fame performing with stars such as Margot Fonteynhe. A closeted homosexual, he died of AIDS.

Ghanaian diplomat Kofi Annan served as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1997 to 2006. He was the founder and chairman of the Kofi Annan Foundation and a co-recipient of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize. During his stint with the UN, he launched the UN Global Compact and worked to combat HIV/AIDS. 

Farah Pahlavi was the Shahbanu of Iran from 1961 to 1979, as the wife of Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Though she was not allowed to hold a political role, she worked for many charities and helped found Iran's first American-style university. She has continued her involvement in charity work even after her husband’s death in 1980. 

Terence Stamp is best known for his Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe-winning performance in the titular role in Billy Budd, his debut movie. He later won hearts with his roles in films such as The Collector and the Superman franchise. He has also narrated the documentary Jazz Britannia for BBC.

Australian former tennis player Rod Laver is widely regarded to be one of the greatest tennis players of all time. He was ranked world No. 1 in nine different years. He holds 200 singles titles--the most in tennis history. He excelled on a variety of court surfaces: grass, clay, hard, carpet, and wood/parquet. The Laver Cup Tournament is named after him.

Canadian-American journalist Peter Jennings is best remembered for his stint on ABC World News Tonight, as its sole anchor. A high-school drop-out, Jennings became one of the U.S.’s Big Three news anchors, along with Tom Brokaw and Dan Rather. He was known for his meticulous coverage of breaking news stories.

Stella Stevens is an American actress best known for playing important roles in popular films, such as Girls! Girls! Girls! and The Nutty Professor. Renowned for her good looks, Stevens was one of the world's most photographed women during the 1960s. She also appeared in Playboy pictorials and was adjudged Playmate of the Month in January 1960.

The Kingston-born American actress, who began her career with the New York Shakespearean Festival, acted in a number films and television series and won Primetime Emmy Award for her role in the crime drama Gabriel's Fire. Madge Sinclair was also a voice artist in the famous animated film The Lion King, released a year before she succumbed to leukaemia.

Claudia Cardinale is a Tunisian-born Italian actress who played important roles in some of the most popular Italian and French movies of the 1960s and 1970s. After achieving immense popularity as an actress in Italy, Cardinale starred in the 1963 American comedy film The Pink Panther, which increased her popularity. Claudia Cardinale was also renowned for her beauty.

The son of a shoe factory owner, mathematician-turned-hedge-fund-manager James Harris Simons studied math at MIT and helped the U.S. break codes during the Vietnam War. He later founded his own hedge fund firm, Renaissance Technologies. He supports autism research and funds Math for America. In 2021, he was America’s 23rd-richest person.

Frank Langella is an actor most revered in the American theatre industry where he has won four Tony Awards. He then replicated his success in the film and TV industry, appearing in popular movies and TV series. His memoir, Dropped Names, attracted critical appreciation, with some even calling it a celebration of sluttiness as a noble way of life.

Nico was a German musician, singer, and songwriter. Her work continues to serve as an inspiration to several musicians like Björk, Morrissey, and the English rock band The Cure. In 2017, Susanna Nicchiarelli directed Nico's biographical film titled Nico, 1988. Also an actress, Nico appeared in many films, including Andy Warhol's experimental underground film Chelsea Girls.

Norwegian actress-film director Liv Ullmann is counted among the greatest European actresses. She is best-known for her roles in films like The Emigrants and Face to Face, both of which earned her Oscar nomination, and the former won her a Golden Globe She received an Honorary Academy Award. Her second directorial feature-film Faithless was nominated for Palme d'Or in 2000.

Stephen Breyer is an American lawyer, legal scholar, and jurist. Since August 1994, Breyer has been serving as an associate justice of the US Supreme Court after being nominated by President Bill Clinton in May 1994. He is also credited with writing several influential textbooks while working as a lecturer and law professor at Harvard Law School in the 1960s. 

Dieter Dengler was a German-born American aviator who served the US Navy during the Vietnam War. He was caught and tortured by the enemies for over six months, after which Dengler escaped from captivity, becoming only the second U.S. airman to escape captivity during the war. The experience was documented by Dieter Dengler in his book, Escape From Laos.

Liberian politician, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, served as the 24th President of Liberia from 2006 to 2018. She was the first elected female head of state in Africa. An alumnus of the Harvard University, she began her political career in the 1970s and rose through the ranks with time. She is the recipient of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize.