Famous People Born On October 16th

Widely regarded as one of the most popular writers of all time, Oscar Wilde is best remembered for his plays and epigrams. He was also one of the best-known personalities during his time as he was popular for his conversational skills, flamboyant dressing sense, and biting wit. Imprisoned in 1895 for consensual homosexual acts, Oscar Wilde was pardoned posthumously in 2017.

Angela Lansbury played a key role in shaping the Golden Age of Hollywood. Recognized as one of the few stars still alive from the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema, Angela Lansbury has received accolades, such as an Honorary Oscar. In 2014, Queen Elizabeth II appointed her a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

Bryce Harper is an American baseball player who currently plays for the Philadelphia Phillies of MLB. Renowned for hitting home runs on Opening Day, Harper holds a unique record of being the first player in the history of MLB to hit five home runs on Opening Days before the age of 25.

Known for his 7’ 7” frame, Manute Bol made headlines as one of the tallest NBA players ever. Born in Sudan, he was initially a soccer player but quit it because of his height. He later moved to the US to represent basketball teams such as the Golden State Warriors.

Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka made history by being the first player of Asian origin to hold the world number one rank in singles. Osaka made headlines when in 2021, she withdrew from the French Open after refusing to be part of a press conference to protect her mental health.

Kellie Martin is an American actress known for playing important roles in popular TV series, such as Life Goes On and ER. For her portrayal of Rebecca Thacher in Life Goes On, Kellie Martin won two Young Artist Awards. Kellie Martin is also famous for voicing Daphne Blake in the animated mystery comedy series, A Pup Named Scooby-Doo.

Inna is a Romanian songwriter and singer who achieved popularity after releasing her debut studio album Hot, which was certified Platinum and Gold. Over the years, she has received several awards, such as MTV Europe Music Awards, Romanian Music Awards, and Balkan Music Awards. Also a human rights activist, Inna supports LGBT and children's rights. 

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.

Eugene O'Neill was an American playwright whose works earned him several prestigious awards, including four Pulitzer Prizes for Drama and the 1936 Nobel Prize in Literature. His play Long Day's Journey into Night is frequently named among the 20th century's finest American plays. In the 1981 film Reds, Eugene O'Neill is played by actor Jack Nicholson.

Enver Hoxha was an Albanian politician. From 1944 to 1954, Hoxha served as the prime minister of Albania. He is credited with rebuilding Albania after World War II. He was also responsible for building the country's first railway line, wiping out epidemics, raising the adult literacy rate, and electrification the country.

Anirudh Ravichander is an Indian singer and film composer. He achieved international recognition in 2012 when his debut track Why This Kolaveri Di went viral on the internet. Since then, Anirudh has been an important composer in the Tamil film industry. Over the years, he has received several prestigious awards like Edison Awards, Vijay Awards, and Mirchi Music Awards South.

South Korean actor Kim Ah-joong of 200 Pounds Beauty fame is also a talented singer who has aced charts with tracks such as Beautiful Girl. She was the victim of a death hoax in 2018, when a website spread a rumor that she had been found dead in her house.

Kenny Omega is the ring name of Tyson Smith, a Canadian-born professional wrestler. He had a successful tenure in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) after which he joined All Elite Wrestling (AEW), in which he is an executive vice president as well. He also appears in Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide and Impact Wrestling. He considers himself straight edge. 

James II of Scotland reigned as the king of Scotland from 1437 to 1460. One of the most popular kings of Scotland, James socialized often with the commoners. Renowned for his restless energy, he traveled around the country and proved to be an active king. Thanks to his popularity, James is often depicted in historical novels, plays, and short stories.

Noah Webster was an American textbook pioneer, lexicographer, political writer, English-language spelling reformer, author, and editor. Dubbed the Father of American Scholarship and Education, Webster's books have been credited with teaching the art of spelling and reading to five generations of American children. Thanks to his work as a spelling reformer, his name became synonymous with dictionary in the US.

Günter Grass was a German novelist, illustrator, graphic artist, poet, playwright, and sculptor. A much revered and decorated writer, Grass was honored with the prestigious Nobel Prize in Literature in 1999. Over the course of his illustrious career, Günter Grass won many other awards, including the Georg Büchner Prize and the Hermann Kesten Prize.

Brazilian-born Dutch-American David Neeleman has redefined the low-cost commercial airline industry with his five airline brands, including JetBlue and Breeze Airways. A university drop-out, Neeleman had started his career as a freelance travel agent, selling package stays in Hawaii, and had then become an airline entrepreneur at 25.

Vicente Carrillo Fuentes is a Mexican drug lord and former chief of the drug trafficking organization, Juárez Cartel. One of the most-wanted drug lords until 2014 when he was captured, Vicente was responsible for transporting billions of dollars' worth of narcotic shipments from Mexico to the USA annually. He was portrayed by Fernando Bonilla in the TV series Narcos: Mexico.