Famous People Born On January 12th

The founder and CEO of the multi-national technology company Amazon, Jeff Bezos is the wealthiest man in the world. Jeff, who left his lucrative job at an investment firm to fulfil his entrepreneurial ambition, also owns the newspaper, The Washington Post, and its affiliate publications along with a spaceflight company, Blue Origin.

A talented actress who felt deeply about social issues, Naya Rivera was known for playing roles that reflected her standing on issues like racism and queer representation. She openly championed for LGBT+ rights, immigrants' rights, and women's rights. The brilliant young woman met a tragic end when she drowned in a lake in 2020.

Kirstie Alley graduated from being an interior designer to participating in game shows, and then stepped into showbiz. She is known for her rib-tickling comedy and her Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning performance as Rebecca Howe in Cheers. She was also part of Dancing with the Stars and Celebrity Big Brother.

Issa Rae is known for her award-winning YouTube series Awkward Black Girl and the HBO series Insecure. Her YouTube channel has promoted the works of Black artists. She made it to the Glamour 35 Under 35 and the Forbes 30 Under 30 lists and was also featured on TIME 100.

Jack London was an American novelist, social activist, and journalist. A pioneer of American magazines and commercial fiction, London was one of the first authors from the US to become an international celebrity. His life and work inspired several films, such as the 1943 movie Jack London and 1980 film Klondike Fever. He was also portrayed in several TV series.

The founding member of the popular heavy metal band White Zombie, Rob Zombie is an American singer-songwriter, voice actor, and filmmaker. Having incorporated horror and sci-fi themes into his music and lyrics from the beginning of his career, Zombie often entertains his audience visually in his live shows; he is credited with popularizing shock rock theatricality.

Rapper Zack de la Rocha, the vocalist for the rock band Rage Against the Machine, also formed the duo One Day as a Lion with drummer Jon Theodore. He supports vegetarianism and the Zapatista (EZLN) movement of Mexico. He also testified against the U.S.’s treatment of Abu-Jamal, at the U.N. 

South Korean singer and actor, Do Kyung-soo, is best known for his association with the South Korean-Chinese boy group, Exo. Interested in singing from primary school, he joined Exo in 2012. As an actor, he has appeared in many TV shows and films. In 2019, he enlisted as an active duty soldier for his mandatory military service.

Born to Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger and supermodel Jerry Hall, Georgia May Jagger was no stranger to the entertainment world in childhood. Now a popular model in her own right, she has promoted many brands such as Hudson Jeans and Louis Vuitton. She has also ventured into designing.

Most people have grown up reading fairy tales such as Little Red Riding Hood and Puss in Boots. However, they aren’t probably aware that these folk tales were first collated and presented under the genre fairy tales, as Tales of Mother Goose, by 17th-century French author Charles Perrault.

Jeremy Camp is an American singer and songwriter who specializes in Contemporary Christian music and Christian rock genres. Over the years, he has won several awards, such as the GMA Dove Awards and ASCAP Songwriter of the Year Awards. Jeremy Camp's life and career have inspired the 2020 Christian romantic drama film, I Still Believe.

Lee Bo-young is a South Korean actress best known for playing Jang Hye-sung in the popular television series I Can Hear Your Voice, for which she received several awards, including three SBS Drama Awards. Also known for her charity work, Lee Bo-young frequently donates to charitable causes along with her husband Ji Sung. She is also active in environmental causes.

John Singer Sargent, an artist active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was considered the "leading portrait painter of his generation." Prolific in his output, he created more than 2,000 watercolors and around 900 oil paintings. He also made numerous sketches and charcoal drawings. He painted with remarkable technical acumen and was internationally known for his expertise.   

Shirley Eaton is an English model and actress best known for her portrayal of Bond Girl Jill Masterson in the popular 1964 spy film Goldfinger. At the peak of her career, Eaton retired from acting in order to devote herself to her family. In 1999, she made a comeback as an author and published an autobiography titled Golden Girl.

Luise Rainer, the first actor to win consecutive Academy Awards, had decided to make a career as an actor after watching a circus performance at age 6. A prominent stage actor in Germany, she secured an MGM movie deal and move to the U.S. during the Nazi regime.

Marián Hossa is a Slovak retired ice hockey player best known for winning the prestigious Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010, 2013, and 2015. Marián Hossa, who accumulated 525 goals during his illustrious career, was made an inductee of the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2020.

The founder of the Ramakrishna Mission and Ramakrishna Math, Swami Vivekananda was an Indian Hindu monk, philosopher, and spiritual leader. He is credited with introducing the Indian philosophies of Yoga and Vedanta to the Western world. He is also credited with elevating the status of Hinduism as a major religion in the modern world by raising interfaith awareness.

Belgian fashion designer Raf Simons initially gained fame as a furniture designer and later established his own menswear label. Inspired by music and arts, his label has gradually turned its focus to simple silhouettes. He has also been associated with Dior and is now the co-creative director of Prada.

Best known for being a top performer on the obstacles show American Ninja Warrior, stuntwoman and TV star Jessie Graff is a black belt in Taekwondo and is well-versed in other forms of martial arts, too. An aerospace engineering graduate, she has also been a competitive gymnast and a pole vaulter.

Claude Giroux is a Canadian ice hockey player who plays as a forward for the Ottawa Senators of the NHL. He has also played for other popular clubs like the Florida Panthers and the Philadelphia Flyers. In 2022, Claude Giroux won the NHL All-Star Game MVP award.

Known as the Victor of the Marne and Papa Joffre, French military commander Joseph Joffre is remembered for his exploits at the Western Front during and after World War I. Following the German invasion of Verdun, he lost his command over the army and was made the Marshal of France.

Per Gessle is a Swedish singer, musician, and songwriter. He is best known as one half of the famous pop rock duo Roxette, which he founded alongside Marie Fredriksson in 1986. Roxette achieved international success before its disbandment in 2019 following Fredriksson's death.