Famous People Born On January 26th

One of the most celebrated actors of the 1960s and 1970s, Paul Newman was a multi-faceted man. Apart from winning acting accolades, such as the Academy Award, he had also won many championships as a driver as part of the Sports Car Club of America. Also known for his philanthropy and political activism, Newman founded many nonprofit organizations.

One of the most popular female WWE wrestlers of the current generation, Sasha Banks was named the top black wrestler in a list titled BW 500 in 2020. A celebrated wrestler, she was involved in the first Iron Woman match, first women's WWE pay-per-view event, and first women's Hell in a Cell match.

Eddie Van Halen was an American songwriter and guitarist. The co-founder of the popular rock band Van Halen, Eddie is widely considered one of the greatest guitar players in the history of rock music. He is credited with popularizing the tapping technique, which is now used extensively by guitarists all over the world.

Widely regarded as the greatest dunker ever in basketball history, Vince Carter is an American former basketball player. His leaping ability during his playing career often entertained crowds, earning him nicknames like Half Man, Half Amazing and Vinsanity. Also a philanthropist, Carter set up the Embassy of Hope Foundation, which helps children in places like New Jersey, Florida, and Ontario.

When it comes to great football managers, Jose Mourinho’s name comes right at the top. He is regarded as one of the most tactfully brilliant managers ever, even though his defensive style has at times been criticised. He has had great stints with Premier League clubs like Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

Activist, philosopher, academic and author, Angela Davis is a founding member of the Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism (CCDS). She has worked in the areas of feminism, class, race and the US prison system. She has also received criticism for supporting the erstwhile Soviet Union and has been accused of supporting political violence.

Starting racing at age 6, Mexican racing driver Sergio Pérez, nicknamed Checo, scripted history by scoring more points than any Mexican in Formula One history. The winner of titles such as the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix and the 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, he is now associated with Red Bull Racing.

Bessie Coleman was an American civil aviator and the first African-American woman to hold a pilot license. Nicknamed Queen Bess, Coleman became a high-profile pilot in the air shows organized in the United States. Bessie Coleman died at the age of 34 in a plane crash. Her efforts to promote aviation inspired the Native American communities.

Best known for her role in the Netflix series Elite, Madrid Theater Award-winning Spanish actor Ester Expósito is a true-blue feminist who has attended rallies for the cause. She had started attending acting classes as soon as she finished school. She is also a passionate dancer.

Scott Glenn is an American actor who has portrayed prominent roles in films, such as Urban Cowboy, The Hunt for Red October, and The Silence of the Lambs. Also known for his contribution to the TV industry, Glenn has appeared in TV films like Homeland Security and Code Breakers.

Identified as the “Best New Talent” of Ireland at the age of 23, Colin Arthur O'Donoghue attracted the attention of TV viewers with his performance in the TV show Once Upon a Time aired on ABC network and went on to star in the movie, The Rite, and Netflix series, Heartstrings. The actor and musician was also a member of the Irish band The Enemies.

Spanish actress and ballerina, Maria Pedraza first came to limelight with her role in the Netflix series Money Heist, debuting on screen earlier in the same year with Amar: With You Until the End of the World. Since then she has been appearing in number of productions, including the thriller teen drama series, Elite, concurrently focusing on her ballet.

Herbert Sobel was an American military man who commanded Easy Company during World War II. Although he played a key role during the war, Sobel was despised by his soldiers due to his arrogance. In the 2001 war drama miniseries Band of Brothers, Herbert Sobel was portrayed by David Schwimmer.

Maria von Trapp was the matriarch of the Austrian singing family, Trapp Family Singers. As a young woman, she married widowed naval commander Georg von Trapp. He already had seven children from his first wife, and the couple had three more. The family began singing together at events and became a popular touring act called the Trapp Family Singers. 

Peter Sagan is a Slovak road bicycle racer. He is currently associated with Bora-Hansgrohe, a popular UCI WorldTeam. Widely regarded as one of cycling's greatest talents, Peter Sagan has won several prestigious championships over the course of his career. He has won UCI Road World Championships and European Championship among many other contests.

Actress Sara Rue is best known for her role in the sitcom Less than Perfect. Born to parents who worked in the Broadway theater, she was introduced to acting as a child and began her acting career at the age of nine. As a young adult, she acted in the movie Pearl Harbor.

Frank Costello was an Italian-American kingpin of the famous Luciano crime family. After serving as a trusted consigliere for the Luciano crime family under Lucky Luciano, Costello became acting boss in 1937 when underboss Genovese fled to Italy, while Luciano was imprisoned. However, he retired in 1957 to avoid an altercation with Genovese, who wanted to rule the crime family.

Nicknamed the Atomic Ant due to his short stature, Sebastian Giovinco had begun his career with the Juventus youth team. Known for his dribbling skills and ball control tactics, he has been named one of the world’s 100 best footballers by publications such as The Guardian.

Known for his 14-year stint with the NFL team Los Angeles Rams, football defensive end Jack Youngblood was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The seven-time Pro Bowl is also a five-time consensus All-Pro. He is also a known name in broadcasting and has penned a memoir, too.

In 2020, Kim Jae-joong was named South Korea’s richest K-pop star. The former member of TVXQ later joined JYJ. He also soared to fame with K-dramas such as Manhole and Triangle. He loves splurging on luxury cars and owns lavish apartments, malls, and restaurants in Korea and Japan.

The son of a trombonist, Venezuelan musician Gustavo Dudamel took to music at age 5 and grew up to be a popular conductor/violinist. He has served as a director of some of the major global orchestras, such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The Grammy winner has also appeared in several TV programs.

Nicolae Ceaușescu was a Romanian politician who served as the first president of the country. Ceaușescu's communist government was totalitarian and was responsible for human rights abuses and severe repression. An anti-government protest (the Romanian Revolution) broke out in 1989 and his government was overthrown subsequently. Ceaușescu and his wife were convicted of genocide and executed by firing squad.