Leo Writers

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 1 
H. P. Lovecraft
(American Weird-Fiction Writer Known for Creating the Mythopoeia 'Cthulhu Mythos')
H. P. Lovecraft
27
Birthdate: August 20, 1890
Birthplace: Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Died: March 15, 1937

HP Lovecraft was a writer of weird and horror fiction and is known for his creation of Cthulhu Mythos, which has inspired a large body of games and music. His stories focused on his interpretation of humanity's place in the universe. He was virtually unknown during his lifetime, but is now considered a significant 20th-century author of supernatural horror fiction.

 2 
James Baldwin
(Author Best Known for His Novel 'Go Tell It on the Mountain')
James Baldwin
20
Birthdate: August 2, 1924
Birthplace: Harlem, New York, United States
Died: December 1, 1987

Amongst the greatest writers of the 20th century and a leading literary voice in the civil rights movement, James Baldwin extensively explored issues like race, sexuality and humanity in his work. His best known work include his debut novel Go Tell It on the Mountain and his books of essays Notes of a Native Son and Nobody Knows My Name.

 3 
Aldous Huxley
(Writer and Philosopher Best Known for His Novels: ‘Brave New World’, ‘Island’ and ‘Point Counter Point’)
Aldous Huxley
16
Birthdate: July 26, 1894
Birthplace: Godalming, England
Died: November 22, 1963

English writer and philosopher Aldous Huxley wrote countless books, including novels, short stories, non-fiction, and poems. He is best remembered for his science-fiction novels Brave New World and Island. The seven-time Nobel Prize nominee was also a Companion of Literature of the Royal Society of Literature and a Vedanta believer.

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 4 
P B Shelley
(One of the Epic Poets of the 19th Century)
P B Shelley
8
Birthdate: August 4, 1792
Birthplace: Warnham, United Kingdom
Died: July 8, 1822
Legendary English Romantic poetry P.B. Shelley is remembered for his masterpieces such as Ode to the West Wind, To a Skylark, and Prometheus Unbound. He was known for his poetic imagery, and his popularity soared after his premature death due to drowning while boating at age 29. 
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 5 
George Bernard Shaw
(Irish playwright Who Won the 1925 Nobel Prize in Literature)
George Bernard Shaw
9
Birthdate: July 26, 1856
Birthplace: Portobello, Dublin, Ireland
Died: November 2, 1950

Nobel Prize-winning playwright and author George Bernard Shaw was best known for his realism and his support for women’s rights and socialism. His ideas gave rise to the word “Shavian.” His drama Pygmalion inspired the musical My Fair Lady. His other notable works include Candida and Man and Superman.

 6 
Alexandre Dumas
(One of the Most Popular and Widely Read French Authors of the 19th Century)
Alexandre Dumas
12
Birthdate: July 24, 1802
Birthplace: Villers-Cotterêts, France
Died: December 5, 1870

One of the most widely read French authors of all time, Alexandre Dumas was prolific in several genres. He joined the army as a young man and later became a full-time writer. Starting his writing career as a playwright, he moved on to writing novels. His novels have been adapted into nearly 200 films in the past century.

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 7 
Charles Bukowski
(Poet and Author Known for His Work “Mockingbird Wish Me Luck,” and “Love Is a Dog from Hell”)
Charles Bukowski
26
Birthdate: August 16, 1920
Birthplace: Andernach, Germany
Died: March 9, 1994

German-American poet and short story writer ,Charles Bukowski, addressed the ordinary lives of poor Americans in most of his works. Since his death, he has been the subject of many critical books and articles. His stories have inspired several films like Tales of Ordinary Madness, Crazy Love, and Factotum.

 8 
Ray Bradbury
(One of the Most Celebrated 20th-Century American Writers Known for His Novel 'Fahrenheit 451')
Ray Bradbury
9
Birthdate: August 22, 1920
Birthplace: Waukegan, Illinois, United States
Died: June 5, 2012
Ray Bradbury is best remembered for his writings in the science-fiction, mystery, and horror genres, the most notable being the short story anthology Martian Chronicles and the novel Fahrenheit 451. He also contributed to the screenplays of various series and films, and won an Emmy for writing The Halloween Tree.
 9 
Emily Brontë
(Novelist)
Emily Brontë
9
Birthdate: July 30, 1818
Birthplace: Thornton, West Yorkshire
Died: December 19, 1848
Victorian novelist/poet Emily Brontë, also known as Ellis Bell, is best remembered for her iconic novel Wuthering Heights. Her book of poems, written with her sisters Charlotte and Anne, was titled Poems by Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell, highlighting their pseudonyms. She suffered from prolonged illness and died of tuberculosis.
 10 
Herman Melville
(Novelist & Short Story Writer of the American Renaissance Period Best Known for His Works 'Moby-Dick' & 'Typee')
Herman Melville
4
Birthdate: August 1, 1819
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Died: September 28, 1891

Herman Melville was an American short story writer, novelist, and poet. One of his best-known works, Moby-Dick is widely regarded as one of the great American novels, although it did not garner much attention during his lifetime. Livyatan melvillei, a species of an extinct sperm whale, which was discovered in 2010, was named in his honor.  

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 11 
Ted Hughes
(Poet and Children's Writer)
Ted Hughes
8
Birthdate: August 17, 1930
Birthplace: Mytholmroyd
Died: October 28, 1998
Poet and children’s author Ted Hughes is best remembered for his iconic poems The Hawk in the Rain, Birthday Letters, and Crow. He was married to poet Sylvia Plath, who eventually committed suicide at 30. Most people blamed him for mistreating Plath and indirectly causing her death.   
 12 
Isabel Allende
(Chilean-American Author Known for Her Novels: ‘The House of the Spirits’ and ‘City of the Beasts’)
Isabel Allende
10
Birthdate: August 2, 1942
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.
 13 
Guy de Maupassant
(French Short Story Writer and Naturalist )
Guy de Maupassant
6
Birthdate: August 5, 1850
Birthplace: Tourville-sur-Arques, France
Died: July 6, 1893

Guy de Maupassant was a French author who wrote 300 short stories during his illustrious career. Widely regarded as the father of the modern short story, Maupassant's stories are characterized by economy of style and depicted human lives in pessimistic terms,

 14 
Raymond Chandler
(Novelist and Screenwriter)
Raymond Chandler
6
Birthdate: July 23, 1888
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died: March 26, 1959
 15 
J. K. Rowling
(Author of Children's Fantasy Series, 'Harry Potter')
J. K. Rowling
159
Birthdate: July 31, 1965
Birthplace: Yate, England

JK Rowling’s story is that of rags-to-riches. She is the author of the Harry Potter fantasy series, which have sold more than 500 million copies and is the best-selling book series in history. She also writes crime fiction albeit under a pen name. Rowling supports many charities and has founded Lumos, an international NGO, working for children.

 16 
Philip Larkin
5
Birthdate: August 9, 1922
Birthplace: Radford, Coventry, United Kingdom
Died: December 2, 1985
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 17 
Robert Graves
(Poet & Novelist)
Robert Graves
8
Birthdate: July 24, 1895
Birthplace: Wimbledon, England
Died: December 7, 1985
 18 
David Duchovny
(Best Known for Playing FBI Agent 'Fox Mulder' on the TV Series ‘The X-Files’)
David Duchovny
6
Birthdate: August 7, 1960
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States

David Duchovny is best known for his Golden Globe-winning roles of FBI Agent Fox Mulder in the sci-fi series The X-Files and Hank Moody in Californication. He is an environment enthusiast and advocates for the use of electric cars. He has released music albums, written books, and recorded audiobooks.

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 19 
Giada De Laurentiis
(Chef and Host of 'Giada at Home')
Giada De Laurentiis
7
Birthdate: August 22, 1970
Birthplace: Rome, Italy

Giada De Laurentiis is an Italian-American chef, restaurateur, television personality, and writer. She won the Gracie Award under the Best Television Host category for hosting Giada at Home. The founder of a catering business called GDL Foods, Giada De Laurentiis has been an influential figure in the American culinary business over the last few years.

 20 
Mara Wilson
(Actress and Writer Known for Her Role as ‘Natalie Hillard’ in the Film ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’)
Mara Wilson
12
Birthdate: July 24, 1987
Birthplace: Burbank, California, United States

Mara Wilson stole the hearts of many with her performance as a child actress in films like Mrs. Doubtfire, Miracle on 34th Street, and Matilda. After growing up, she decided to pursue a career as a writer. In one of her interviews, she spoke about her mental illnesses, including OCD, depression, and anxiety. She also came out as bisexual.

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 21 
Zelda Fitzgerald
(Socialite & Referred to as 'The first American Flapper' by Her Husband 'F. Scott Fitzgerald')
Zelda Fitzgerald
5
Birthdate: July 24, 1900
Birthplace: Montgomery, Alabama, United States
Died: March 10, 1948

Zelda Fitzgerald was a painter, socialite, and novelist. Along with her husband Scott Fitzgerald, Zelda became a prominent personality of the Jazz Age. Renowned for her high spirits and beauty, she was named the first American flapper by Scott. For her work as a novelist and painter, Fitzgerald was posthumously made an inductee to the Alabama Women's Hall of Fame.

 22 
Richard Belzer
(Stand-up Comedian, Actor, Author)
Richard Belzer
6
Birthdate: August 4, 1944
Birthplace: Bridgeport, Connecticut
Died: February 19, 2023
Richard Belzer is best known as John Munch from the series Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order: SVU. He continued to play the role in several other series and a TV movie. He has also written several books on conspiracy theories, of which two became bestsellers.
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 23 
Beatrix Potter
6
Birthdate: July 28, 1866
Birthplace: Kensington
Died: December 22, 1943
Born into an affluent English family, Beatrix Potter grew up amidst nature and developed a love for animals. She grew up to be a natural scientist, conservationist, and illustrator, and is best remembered for her children's books such as The Tale of Peter Rabbit, which featured animals.
 24 
Dom DeLuise
(Actor)
Dom DeLuise
4
Birthdate: August 1, 1933
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Died: May 4, 2009
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
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 25 
Mae West
(Actress, Screenwriter, Singer)
Mae West
4
Birthdate: August 17, 1893
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Died: November 22, 1980
Mae West began her career as a child actor in vaudeville. She later appeared in films such as You Done Me Wrong and Go West, Young Man. She became famous for her signature double entendres and sexual liberty she projected on screen. She also wrote books and plays later.
 26 
Gene Roddenberry
(Screenwriter, Producer, and Creator of American TV Series, 'Star Trek: The Original Series')
Gene Roddenberry
4
Birthdate: August 19, 1921
Birthplace: El Paso
Died: October 24, 1991
TV writer and producer Gene Roddenberry, who created the original Star Trek series of the 1960s, also produced its spin-offs. He was the first TV writer to have a Hollywood Walk of Fame star and was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame. His ashes were flown into space.
 27 
Woody Harrelson
(Actor and Playwright)
Woody Harrelson
8
Birthdate: July 23, 1961
Birthplace: Midland, Texas, United States

Actor Woody Harrelson has been active in the entertainment world for over 40 years now. The son of a convicted hit-man, he had a difficult childhood and grew up in poverty. However, he was determined to build a good life for himself and earned a BFA in theater before venturing into acting. He is a vegan and an environmental activist.

 28 
Steve Martin
(Actor, Comedian, Writer and Musician)
Steve Martin
10
Birthdate: August 14, 1945
Birthplace: Waco, Texas, United States

A man of many talents, Steve Martin is a successful comedian, actor, and musician. In 2004, he was ranked sixth in Comedy Central's 100 greatest stand-up comics list. Despite achieving great fame and success as a comedian and actor, Steve decided to pursue a career in music and began appearing seldom in films to record and tour with bluegrass acts.

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 29 
Misha Collins
(Best Known for His Role as ‘Castiel’ in the TV Series 'Supernatural')
Misha Collins
4
Birthdate: August 20, 1974
Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Misha Collins is best known for playing Castiel and other characters in the series Supernatural. He is also a poet and has co-authored a cookbook with his wife. He has established the charity Random Acts and the GISHWHES. He has also written an academic paper on the structure of shapes.
 30 
Rupert Brooke
3
Birthdate: August 3, 1887
Birthplace: Rugby
Died: April 23, 1915
 31 
Enid Blyton
(Best Selling Children's Writer of the 20th Century Known for Her Works 'Malory Towers' & 'The Famous Five')
Enid Blyton
5
Birthdate: August 11, 1897
Birthplace: East Dulwich, London, England
Died: November 28, 1968
Author Enid Blyton is best remembered for her iconic children’s book series such as Famous Five, Malory Towers, and Secret Seven, majorly focusing on mystery-based plots. Her works have made her the fourth-most-translated writer. She had supported animal and paediatric charities. Her story inspired the BBC film Enid.
 32 
Alfred Lord Tennyson
(19th Century English Poet Who was the Poet Laureate During Much of Queen Victoria's Reign)
Alfred Lord Tennyson
4
Birthdate: August 6, 1809
Birthplace: Somersby, Lincolnshire, England
Died: October 6, 1892

Alfred, Lord Tennyson was a British poet. One of the most famous British poets of all time, Tennyson served as the Poet Laureate during Queen Victoria's reign. His poetry, which is renowned for its powerful visual imagery, served as an important influence on the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, a group of English poets and painters.

 33 
Christopher Robin Milne
(Author)
Christopher Robin Milne
5
Birthdate: August 21, 1920
Birthplace: Chelsea, London, United Kingdom
Died: April 20, 1996
 34 
Junji Ito
(Japanese Horror Mangaka and Writer)
Junji Ito
4
Birthdate: July 31, 1963
Birthplace: Gifu, Japan

Junji Ito is a Japanese manga artist known for his horror manga series, such as Tomie, Uzumaki, and Gyo. Tomie has been adapted into a series of Japanese films, while Uzumaki was adapted into a 2000 film of the same name. In 2019, Junji Ito was honored with an Eisner Award for his work. 

 35 
David Walliams
(Comedian)
David Walliams
10
Birthdate: August 20, 1971
Birthplace: Wimbledon, London, England

Best known as Matt Lucas from Rock Profile, David Williams has judged Britain's Got Talent; written bestselling children’s books, such as The World's Worst Children series; and swum across the English Channel to raise funds for the charity Sport Relief. His philanthropic efforts won him the OBE in 2017.

 36 
Peter Bogdanovich
(Director)
Peter Bogdanovich
4
Birthdate: July 30, 1939
Birthplace: Kingston, New York, USA
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 37 
Robert Shaw
(British Actor Known for His Role as ‘Henry VIII' in the Drama Film ‘a Man for All Seasons')
Robert Shaw
4
Birthdate: August 9, 1927
Birthplace: Westhoughton, Lancashire, England
Died: August 28, 1978
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 38 
Geri Halliwell
13
Birthdate: August 6, 1972
Birthplace: Watford

Geri Halliwell is a British singer-songwriter who achieved international fame as part of the popular girl group, The Spice Girls, which has sold more than 85 million records worldwide. Also a well-known philanthropist, Geri Halliwell has worked closely with the United Nations Population Fund, becoming its goodwill ambassador in 1998. She is widely regarded as a girl power icon.

 39 
Leigh Anne Tuohy
(Interior Designer, Entrepreneur, Writer)
Leigh Anne Tuohy
4
Birthdate: August 9, 1960
Birthplace: Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Interior designer Leigh Anne Tuohy is also known as the adoptive mother of former NFL footballer Michael Oher. Their story inspired the book The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game and its movie adaptation, The Blind Side. She co-owns several food franchises, has co-written a book, and owns a non-profit.
 40 
Lady Colin Campbell
(British Jamaican Socialite, TV Personality and Author Who Has Published Books About the British Royal Family)
Lady Colin Campbell
8
Birthdate: August 17, 1949
Birthplace: St. Andrew Parish, Jamaica

Jamaican-born British writer, socialite, and TV personality, Lady Colin Campbell, is known for publishing four books about the British royal family, including a biography of Diana, Princess of Wales. While her books about the royal family made her popular, she also faced criticism for some of her claims. She once kindled controversy for supporting sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein, on TV.

 41 
V. S. Naipaul
(Trinidadian-Born British Writer Who Won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2001)
V. S. Naipaul
10
Birthdate: August 17, 1932
Birthplace: Trinidad and Tobago
Died: August 11, 2018

Born to Indian descendants in Trinidad, V. S. Naipaul grew up to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. The author of iconic novels such as Half a Life and A House for Mr. Biswas, Naipaul was also knighted. His realistic depiction of developing countries and their miseries won hearts worldwide.

 42 
Jonah Falcon
(Actor)
Jonah Falcon
5
Birthdate: July 29, 1970
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, USA
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 43 
Stanley A McChrystal
(Retired Armed Force Officer)
Stanley A McChrystal
4
Birthdate: August 14, 1954
Birthplace: Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, United States

Retired United States Army general, Stanley A McChrysta,l is best known for his command of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) during the 2000s. He was described as "perhaps the finest warrior and leader of men in combat I ever met" by Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Following his retirement, he began teaching courses in international relations at Yale University.

 44 
Walter Scott
(Novelist and Poet known for his Works Ivanhoe, Rob Roy, and The Lady of the Lake)
Walter Scott
5
Birthdate: August 15, 1771
Birthplace: Edinburgh, Scotland
Died: September 21, 1832

Walter Scott was a Scottish novelist, poet, historian, and playwright. Scott's ability as a writer and his knowledge of history made him a pioneering figure in the formation of the historical novel genre. An influential writer, many of his works remain classics of Scottish as well as English-language literature. Scott was admired by other prominent writers like Letitia Elizabeth Landon.

 45 
James Marsters
(Actor)
James Marsters
4
Birthdate: August 20, 1962
Birthplace: Greenville, Plumas County, California, USA
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 46 
Carole Radziwill
(Journalist)
Carole Radziwill
4
Birthdate: August 20, 1963
Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 47 
Dorothy Parker
(American Poet, Critic & Satirist Who Was Known for Her Wit, Wisecracks, and Eye for 20th-Century Urban Foibles)
Dorothy Parker
6
Birthdate: August 22, 1893
Birthplace: Long Branch, New Jersey, United States
Died: June 7, 1967

Poet and author Dorothy Parker rose to fame with her published works in The New Yorker. She later formed the Algonquin Round Table. She also wrote for Hollywood films such as A Star Is Born and earned two Academy Award nominations. However, her association with left-wing politics got her blacklisted.

 48 
Thomas Lennon
(Actor)
Thomas Lennon
4
Birthdate: August 9, 1970
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 49 
Julian Fellowes
(Screenwriter who is primarily known as the author of several Sunday Times bestseller novels; for the screenplay for the film Gosford Park)
Julian Fellowes
4
Birthdate: August 17, 1949
Birthplace: Cairo, Egypt
 50 
Danielle Steel
4
Birthdate: August 14, 1947
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States