Famous People Born In 1942

Discover the most famous people born in 1942. The list includes people like Stephen Hawking, Muhammad Ali, Harrison Ford, Paul McCartney, Jimi Hendrix and many more. This list of celebrities is loosely sorted by popularity. People featured on this list, include political leaders, composers, guitarists and journalists born in 1942. This list includes people from United States, United Kingdom, Canada & Italy and many more countries.
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 1 
Muhammad Ali
(The Greatest Heavyweight Boxer of All Time)
Muhammad Ali
204
Listed In: Philanthropists
Birthdate: 17th January
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Died: June 3, 2016

Widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time, Muhammad Ali was a major figure of the 20th century. He was an inspirational figure for African-Americans during the civil rights movement. Because of his opposition to Vietnam War and his refusal to be drafted into military, Muhammad Ali became an icon for the larger counterculture generation.

 2 
Stephen Hawking
(Theoretical Physicist - First to Set Out a Theory of Cosmology)
Stephen Hawking
269
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: 8th January
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Oxford, England
Died: March 14, 2018

Stephen Hawking was an English theoretical physicist and cosmologist, who despite being afflicted motor neurone disease that severely limited his physical abilities, was able to build a phenomenally successful career. He was the first to set out a theory of cosmology explained by a union of the general theory of relativity and quantum mechanics. Hawking was ranked 25 in the BBC's poll of the 100 Greatest Britons, in 2002.

 3 
Bob Ross
(Painter, Art Instructor and Television Host)
Bob Ross
71
Birthdate: 29th October
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Daytona Beach, Florida, United States
Died: July 4, 1995

Painter, art instructor, and television host, Bob Ross, gained international fame as the creator and host of the instructional TV show, The Joy of Painting. He served in the United States Air Force for several years before embarking on a career as a painter. He had a deep love for animals and cared for several injured squirrels, armadillos, and snakes.

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 4 
Harrison Ford
(One of The Highest-Grossing Actors in North America)
Harrison Ford
115
Listed In: Actors
Birthdate: 13th July
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States

With an extensive career spanning six decades, veteran actor Harrison Ford is a major figure in Hollywood. The recipient of many prestigious awards, including the Cecil B. DeMille Award, he is one of the highest-grossing domestic box office stars of all time. Besides acting, he is a licensed pilot of both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.

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 5 
Aretha Franklin
(One of the Best-Selling Music Artists in the World & 'Queen of Soul')
Aretha Franklin
149
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: 25th March
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Died: August 16, 2018

Widely regarded as the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin was a singer-songwriter, actress, and civil rights activist. Recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Aretha was ranked number one on Rolling Stone magazine's 100 Greatest Singers of All Time list in 2010. Having sold over 75 million records, she is also one of the best-selling musicians ever.

 6 
Jimi Hendrix
(One of the Most Influential Electric Guitarists & the Greatest Instrumentalist in the History of Rock Music)
Jimi Hendrix
64
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: 27th November
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Seattle, Washington, United States
Died: September 18, 1970

One of the most celebrated musicians of the 20th century, Jimi Hendrix began playing guitar at the age of 15. As his career progressed, he became the first musician to use stereophonic phasing effects in recordings. Rolling Stone ranked him as the greatest guitarist and the sixth greatest artist of all time. He died under mysterious circumstances at the age of 27.

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 7 
Paul McCartney
(Co-Lead Vocalist of the Rock Band 'The Beatles' and One of the Most Successful Composers of All Time)
Paul McCartney
121
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: 18th June
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Liverpool, England, United Kingdom

English singer-songwriter and musician, Paul McCartney, is one of the most successful composers and performers of all time. He gained worldwide fame as co-lead vocalist and bassist for the rock band, the Beatles. He also enjoyed a successful solo career. Besides music, he has been actively involved in humanitarian causes and animal rights issues.

 8 
Barbra Streisand
(One of the Few Performers Who Have Been Awarded an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (EGOT))
Barbra Streisand
80
Birthdate: 24th April
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States

Barbra Streisand is one of the most popular American entertainers and one of the few women to win four major entertainment awards - Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award (EGOT). Apart from being a great entertainer, she has also played a major role as a philanthropist; she has raised $25 million for charity organizations through live performances.

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 9 
Martin Scorsese
(Director, Producer and One of the Major Figures of the 'New Hollywood' Era)
Martin Scorsese
31
Birthdate: 17th November
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Flushing, New York, United States

Martin Scorsese is widely considered one of the most influential and significant film directors in the history of the American film industry. One of the most decorated film directors, Scorsese has nine Oscar nominations, the most for any living director. He has also founded many non-profit organizations like The Film Foundation and World Cinema Foundation.

 10 
Carole King
(Composer)
Carole King
47
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: 9th February
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Manhattan, New York City, New York

Carole King is an American singer-songwriter. As a songwriter, King has contributed immensely to the success of other singers and is widely regarded as one of the most successful female songwriters of the 20th century. In 2013, she became the first woman to be honored with the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

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 11 
Jerry Garcia
(The Lead Guitarist and a Vocalist with the Rock Band the "Grateful Dead")
Jerry Garcia
27
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: 1st August
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: San Francisco, California, United States
Died: August 9, 1995

Jerry Garcia had an illustrious 30-year career as the lead guitarist and vocalist of the rock band the Grateful Dead. Rolling Stone ranked him 13th on their 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time list. He was known for his improvisations, participated in many side projects, and released several solo albums.

 12 
Judith Sheindlin
(TV personality)
Judith Sheindlin
27
Listed In: Lawyers & Judges
Birthdate: 21st October
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States

Judith Sheindlin is a prosecution lawyer, television personality, and author. Since 1996, she has been presiding over her own arbitration reality court show Judge Judy, which has won four Daytime Emmy Awards. The longest-serving judge in the history of the courtroom-themed program, Judith Sheindlin was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Emmy for her work.

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 13 
Brian Jones
(English Multi-Instrumentalist, Singer and Founder of the Rock Band 'The Rolling Stones')
Brian Jones
33
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: 28th February
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
Died: July 3, 1969

Brian Jones was an English musician credited with founding the world-renowned rock band, The Rolling Stones. He was also considered the original leader of the band before his fellow band members, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, took over the musical direction of the band. Jones became the first member of the infamous 27 Club, when he died at age 27.

 14 
Madeline Kahn
(Known for Her Comedic Roles in Films)
Madeline Kahn
15
Birthdate: 29th September
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Died: December 3, 1999

Madeline Kahn was an American actress, singer, and comedian. She is best remembered for her comedic roles in movies like Young Frankenstein, History of the World, Part I, and High Anxiety. Over the course of her career, Madeline Kahn received several prestigious awards such as the Drama Desk Award, People's Choice Award, and Daytime Emmy Award.

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 15 
Brian Wilson
(Co-Founder of the Rock Band 'Beach Boys')
Brian Wilson
17
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: 20th June
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Inglewood, California, United States

Brian Wilson is a singer-songwriter and record producer. He is credited with co-founding the popular rock band, The Beach Boys. Referred to as a genius, Wilson serves as an inspiration to several indie musicians. Regarded as one of the most significant songwriters of his generation, Wilson is often featured in lists, such as the 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time.

 16 
Isaac Hayes
(Singer-songwriter)
Isaac Hayes
18
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: 20th August
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Covington, Tennessee, United States
Died: August 10, 2008
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 17 
Billy Connolly
(Stand-up Comedian)
Billy Connolly
33
Birthdate: 24th November
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Glasgow, Scotland

Billy Connolly is a retired stand-up comedian, actor, and musician. Known for his observational and idiosyncratic comedy, Connolly is widely considered one of the most influential and greatest stand-up comedians of all time. He has also worked with the British charity, Comic Relief and has appeared in a documentary and a live stage show for the charity.

 18 
Michael Crichton
(Best Known as the Author of “Jurassic Park” and the creator of the TV Drama “ER”)
Michael Crichton
9
Listed In: Directors
Birthdate: 23rd October
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died: November 4, 2008

Michael Crichton was an American filmmaker and author. He wrote several science-fiction books, which have sold more than 200 million copies. Many of his books, such as The Andromeda Strain, Jurassic Park, Congo, Rising Sun, and Disclosure, have been adapted into highly successful films. He is also credited with creating the popular medical drama TV series, ER.

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 19 
Tammy Wynette
(American Music Artist Who is Known as the ‘First Lady of Country Music’)
Tammy Wynette
25
Listed In: Country Singers
Birthdate: 5th May
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Itawamba County, Mississippi, United States
Died: April 6, 1998
Country singer Tammy Wynette, named the First Lady of Country Music, is best remembered for the track Stand by Your Man. She remains one of the best-selling female country artists of all time. She was also married to country singer George Jones, which made them a musical power couple.
 20 
Ian McShane
(English Actor, Producer, and Director)
Ian McShane
15
Listed In: Actors
Birthdate: 29th September
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Blackburn, United Kingdom
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 21 
Jerry Jones
(American Businessman, President and General Manager of the 'Dallas Cowboys Team' of the NFL)
Jerry Jones
15
Birthdate: 13th October
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States

Businessman Jerry Jones is best known for being the owner of the National Football League (NFL)'s Dallas Cowboys since 1989. An alumnus of the University of Arkansas, he launched many businesses as a young man and suffered a series of failures before finally finding financial success. Besides his business ventures, he has appeared in a few TV programs.

 22 
David Ogden Stiers
(Actor)
David Ogden Stiers
5
Birthdate: 31st October
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Peoria, Illinois, USA
Died: March 3, 2018
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 23 
Sandra Dee
(Actress and Model Best Known for Her Film ‘Until They Sail’)
Sandra Dee
10
Listed In: Actresses
Birthdate: 23rd April
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Bayonne, New Jersey, United States
Died: February 20, 2005
Sandra Dee started her career as a child model and then became a teen idol with films such as Gidget and Imitation of Life. She won a Golden Globe for the film Until They Sail. She suffered from anorexia nervosa and eventually died of a kidney ailment at age 62.
 24 
Carlos Hathcock
(Military Personnel)
Carlos Hathcock
25
Listed In: Soldiers
Birthdate: 20th May
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Little Rock, Arkansas
Died: February 23, 1999
Carlos Hathcock was a U.S. Marine sniper who had killed at least 93 enemy personnel in the Vietnam War. He inspired the 1993 movie Sniper. His signature style of attaching a feather to his bush hat earned him the name “White Feather.” He later had a rifle named after him.
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 25 
Annette Funicello
(Actress and Singer)
Annette Funicello
11
Listed In: Actresses
Birthdate: 22nd October
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Utica, New York, United States
Died: April 8, 2013
Annette Funicello started performing with the Mickey Mouse Club, as a Mouseketeer, at age 12. She later delivered hit singles such as Tall Paul and Pineapple Princess and also became a successful actor, appearing in Beach Party films such as Bikini Beach. She died of multiple sclerosis at age 70.
 26 
Stefanie Powers
(American Actress Best Known for Her Role as ‘Jennifer Hart’ in the TV Series 'Hart to Hart')
Stefanie Powers
6
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: 2nd November
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
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 27 
Lou Reed
(Lead Guitarist, Vocalist & Principal Songwriter of the Rock Band “The Velvet Underground”)
Lou Reed
17
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: 2nd March
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States
Died: October 27, 2013
Lou Reed redefined the glam rock genre with his album Transformer. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee initially wrote sings for Pickwick Records and performed with the Velvet Underground. He then released 20 solo albums. His parents had made him go through electro-shock therapy to “cure” his bisexuality.
 28 
Curtis Mayfield
(Singer, Guitarist)
Curtis Mayfield
12
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: 3rd June
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died: December 26, 1999
Soul singer and guitarist Curtis Mayfield gained fame with The Impressions. His songs such as People Get Ready carried prominent social themes. The Grammy Hall of Fame inductee was paralyzed from the neck down after an accident during a live performance in 1990 but continued to record even after that.
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 29 
Michael Nesmith
(American Musician, Songwriter and Actor)
Michael Nesmith
11
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: 30th December
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Houston, Texas, United States
Died: December 10, 2021
 30 
Linda Evans
(Known primarily for her roles on television)
Linda Evans
8
Listed In: Actresses
Birthdate: 18th November
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Hartford, Connecticut, United States
 31 
Amitabh Bachchan
44
Listed In: Actors
Birthdate: 11th October
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India
The megastar of Indian film industry, Amitabh Bachchan’s body of work is awe inspiring. From Zanjeer to Sholay and from Black to Paa, he has delivered performances that have become iconic. He is the host of KBC, the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and has also lent his baritone voice to some super hit songs.
 32 
Huey P. Newton
(Political Activist, Revolutionary Leader and Co-Founder of the ‘Black Panther Party’)
Huey P. Newton
29
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: 17th February
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Monroe, Louisiana, United States
Died: August 22, 1989

Huey P. Newton was an African-American civil and political rights activist. He is credited with co-founding The Black Panther Party (BPP), which went on to become one of black movement's most influential organizations of the late-1960s. The party, under Newton's leadership, founded more than 60 community support programs, including Free Breakfast for Children, which provided food to thousands of children.

 33 
Calvin Klein
(American Fashion Designer and Founder of 'Calvin Klein Inc')
Calvin Klein
7
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: 19th November
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Bronx, New York, United States

Known for designing tight-fitting signature jeans, the award-winning American designer is the co-founder of the New York-headquartered fashion brand 'Calvin Klein Inc'. Calvin Klein featured in The International Best-Dressed Hall of Fame. Father of noted television producer, Marci Klein, Calvin has funded Democratic Party candidates and made financial contributions to the Political Action Committee.

 34 
Roger Ebert
(Film Critic for the "Chicago Sun-Times")
Roger Ebert
16
Listed In: Film Critics
Birthdate: 18th June
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Urbana, Illinois, United States
Died: April 4, 2013

Roger Ebert was an American journalist, author, screenwriter, film historian, and film critic. While working as a film critic for the daily newspaper Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert received the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism, becoming the first film critic to be honored with the prestigious award. He was often described as America's most influential and prominent film critic of all time.

 35 
Fred Thompson
(Former United States Senator from Tennessee (1994 - 2003))
Fred Thompson
13
Listed In: Lawyers & Judges
Birthdate: 19th August
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Sheffield, Alabama, United States
Died: November 1, 2015

Fred Thompson was an American politician, lobbyist, attorney, columnist, radio personality, and actor. From 1994 to 2003, Thompson served as the United States Senator from Tennessee. As an actor, he played important roles in several films and TV series, such as Law & Order and Barbarians at the Gate.

 36 
Frankie Lymon
22
Listed In: Rock Singers
Birthdate: 30th September
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States
Died: February 27, 1968
Rock and roll/R&B singer/songwriter Frankie Lymon started his career as the lead singer of the group The Teenagers, known for hits such as Why Do Fools Fall in Love. Both his and his band’s popularity declined after he went solo. He was found dead of a heroin overdose at 25.
 37 
Tony Sirico
(Best Known for His Role in the TV Series 'The Sopranos')
Tony Sirico
4
Listed In: Actors
Birthdate: 29th July
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States

Tony Sirico is an American actor whose on-screen characters—he mostly plays gangsters—is a reflection of his early life during which he was arrested 28 times for charges including assault, disorderly conduct, and robbery. In fact, he was inspired to give acting a try only after meeting an acting troupe composed of ex-convicts who visited him during his imprisonment.

 38 
Bob Hoskins
(Actor)
Bob Hoskins
11
Listed In: Actors
Birthdate: 26th October
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Bury St Edmunds, West Suffolk, England
Died: April 29, 2014
 39 
Ronnie James Dio
(Former heavy metal singer, songwriter and composer)
Ronnie James Dio
13
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: 10th July
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States
Died: May 16, 2010
 40 
Terry Jones
(Actor)
Terry Jones
12
Birthdate: 1st February
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Colwyn Bay, Denbighshire, Wales
Died: January 21, 2020
Starting his career as a comedy writer, actor-director Terry Jones later soared to fame as part of the Monty Python comedy team. An avid historian, too, he wrote several books and presented TV documentaries on the topic. In his later years, the BAFTA Cymru award winner struggled with dementia. 
 41 
Isabel Allende
(Chilean-American Author Known for Her Novels: ‘The House of the Spirits’ and ‘City of the Beasts’)
Isabel Allende
35
Listed In: Novelists
Birthdate: 2nd August
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Lima, Peru
Chilean author Isabel Allende is known for her bestselling Spanish-language novels The House of the Spirits and City of the Beasts. The Chilean National Literature Prize-winner explores women’s perspectives and includes magic realism and autobiographical aspects in her works. She has also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
 42 
Peter Tork
(American Actor & Musician)
Peter Tork
7
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: 13th February
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Washington, D.C., United States
Died: February 21, 2019
 43 
Werner Herzog
(German Film Director Regarded as a Pioneer of 'New German Cinema')
Werner Herzog
11
Birthdate: 5th September
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Munich, Germany
Werner Herzog, one of the prominent figures of the New German Cinema era, has directed films such as Fitzcarraldo and Aguirre, and documentaries such as Grizzly Man. Named to TIME 100, he has written countless books and directed many operas. He was also seen playing The Client in The Mandalorian.
 44 
Tasuku Honjo
(Nobel Prize-Winning Japanese Immunologist Who Is Known for His Research on Cancer Immunotherapy)
Tasuku Honjo
31
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: 27th January
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan

Nobel Prize-winning Japanese immunologist Tasuku Honjo is known identifying the programmed cell death protein 1 and for revolutionizing cancer immunotherapy. Initially part of the University of Tokyo's faculty of medicine, he later taught genetics, immunology, and medical chemistry at several institutes. He was a foreign associate of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences.

 45 
Fred Ward
(Known for Role in the 'Right Stuff')
Fred Ward
5
Birthdate: 30th December
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: San Diego, California, United States
Died: May 8, 2022
 46 
John Thaw
(Actor)
John Thaw
11
Listed In: Actors
Birthdate: 3rd January
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: West Gorton, Manchester, England, UK
Died: February 21, 2002
 47 
Melvin Franklin
(R&B Singer)
Melvin Franklin
14
Birthdate: 12th October
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Montgomery, Alabama
Died: February 23, 1995
 48 
Scott Wilson
(American Actor)
Scott Wilson
2
Listed In: Actors
Birthdate: 29th March
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Thomasville, Georgia, United States
Died: October 6, 2018
 49 
Britt Ekland
(Swedish Actress, Model and Singer)
Britt Ekland
12
Birthdate: 6th October
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden

Britt Ekland is a Swedish actress, singer, and model. One of the leading actresses in Sweden during the 1960s and 1970s, Ekland also established herself as a sex symbol and achieved international prominence when she appeared as a Bond girl in The Man with the Golden Gun. Britt Ekland was also one of the most photographed actresses during the 1970s.

 50 
Eusébio
(Portuguese Footballer Known for His Speed and Exceptional Goal-Scoring Abilities)
Eusébio
12
Listed In: Football Players
Birthdate: 25th January
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Maputo, Mozambique
Died: January 5, 2014

Considered one of the most successful African-origin footballers of all time, Eusébio, or the Black Panther, was born in the Portuguese Mozambique and grew up to represent the Portuguese national team as a striker. He also had a great stint with the club Benfica, having won the Primeira Liga with them 11 times.