Famous People Born in 1961
- Barack Obama, born in Honolulu, Hawaii on August 4, 1961, has been a significant figure in American politics. He made history as the first African American to hold the office of President of the United States. Before his presidency, he served as a senator for Illinois from 2005 to 2008. Obama's early life was marked by diverse experiences that shaped his worldview. His mother Stanley Ann Dunham - an anthropologist - and father Barack Obama Sr. - an economist from Kenya - divorced when he was young. He spent part of his childhood living with his grandparents in Hawaii and four years in Indonesia with his mother and stepfather Lolo Soetoro. These formative years instilled in him a deep appreciation for different cultures and perspectives. His career path is characterized by dedication to public service and law. After earning degrees from Columbia University and Harvard Law School – where he became the first black president of the Harvard Law Review – Obama worked as a community organizer in Chicago before serving three terms representing the 13th District on the Illinois Senate from 1997 until 2004. As President (from January 20, 2009 to January 20, 2017), Obama passed several key pieces of legislation including The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (known commonly as Obamacare) which expanded health insurance coverage for Americans; Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Bill aimed at financial sector regulation; and Don't Ask Don't Tell Repeal Act allowing gay people openly serve military.
- Birthplace: Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
- Ann Coulter, a controversial conservative social and political commentator, is known for her audacious style and unapologetic approach to expressing her viewpoints. Born on December 8, 1961, in New York City, she was raised in Connecticut in a family that prized political discussion, an influence that significantly shaped her future career. She attended Cornell University, where she obtained her Bachelor's degree in History before earning a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School. Her education laid the foundation for her future involvement in law and politics. Coulter commenced her professional journey in law initially, serving as a clerk for Pasco Bowman II, an esteemed judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. She then transitioned into writing, finding a niche as a contributing editor and syndicated columnist for numerous publications, including National Review Online, where her provocative commentary quickly gained notoriety. Despite criticisms, Coulter has remained steadfast, using controversy as a platform to discuss key issues affecting America. Beyond her career in law and journalism, Coulter has further established herself as a bestselling author. She has written over a dozen books. Some of her most notable works include Adios, America: The Left's Plan to Turn Our Country into a Third World Hellhole and In Trump We Trust: E Pluribus Awesome! Through each of her pursuits, Ann Coulter has cemented herself as a prominent figure in conservative thought, continuing to spark conversation and debate throughout the political landscape.
- Birthplace: New York, New York, USA
- Born on May 13, 1961, in Trenton, New Jersey, Dennis Rodman grew up in a rough neighborhood in Dallas, Texas, where he was often overlooked due to his small stature. However, a late growth spurt propelled him into the world of basketball, where he would go on to become one of the most recognizable figures in the sport. Rodman's professional career began with the Detroit Pistons in 1986, after an impressive stint at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Known for his tenacious defensive skills and rebounding prowess, he became a key player in the "Bad Boys" Pistons team that won back-to-back NBA championships in 1989 and 1990. His unique style of play earned him two NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards and solidified his place as one of the best power forwards of his generation. In 1995, he joined the Chicago Bulls, forming a formidable trio with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen and helping the team secure three more NBA titles. Beyond basketball, Rodman's flamboyant personality, marked by his ever-changing hair colors, numerous tattoos, and eccentric fashion sense, made him a cultural icon. His unpredictable behavior and candidness about personal struggles drew both criticism and admiration. Equally intriguing were his ventures into professional wrestling, acting, and even diplomacy, having made several high-profile visits to North Korea. Despite the controversies, Rodman's impact on the game of basketball is undeniable, resulting in his enshrinement in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011.
- Birthplace: Trenton, New Jersey, USA
- Boy George, born as George Alan O'Dowd on June 14, 1961, in Eltham, London, is a renowned British singer-songwriter, fashion designer, DJ, and photographer. He gained international fame during the 1980s as the lead vocalist of the pop band Culture Club, known for their blend of soul, reggae, and new wave music. The band's hits such as "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" and "Karma Chameleon" catapulted them to stardom, making Boy George a household name. George's distinct androgynous style played a significant role in his public persona, making him a style icon of the 1980s. His unique image, characterized by his flamboyant outfits and heavy make-up, challenged the conventional norms of pop music, adding vibrancy to the era's music scene. Beyond his musical career, George also made waves in the fashion world. He launched his own fashion line, B-Rude, showcasing his avant-garde design sensibility. Over the years, George also explored other creative avenues beyond music and fashion. He delved into photography, exhibiting his work in various galleries around the world. He also authored two autobiographies, providing fans with a glimpse into his personal life and professional journey. Boy George remains a resilient figure in the entertainment industry, demonstrating his versatility and creativity across multiple platforms. His influence continues to be felt in music, fashion, and popular culture.
- Birthplace: Eltham, Kent, England, UK
- Diana, Princess of Wales, was an iconic figure who came into the global spotlight when she married Charles, Prince of Wales, in 1981. Born on July 1, 1961, in Sandringham, England, Diana Frances Spencer was the youngest daughter of Edward John Spencer, Viscount Althorp, and Frances Ruth Burke Roche, Viscountess Althorp. She grew up among British nobility and had royal ancestry. Her marriage to Prince Charles not only made her a member of the British royal family but also put her at the center of public attention. Known for her charismatic personality and humanitarian efforts, Diana played a significant role in various charitable activities throughout her life. Her involvement in charities ranged from supporting people with HIV/AIDS to advocating for the ban of landmines worldwide. Her compassionate nature and genuine interest in helping those less fortunate set her apart from other members of the royal family. Diana's personal struggles and her candidness about them, including her battle with bulimia and depression, made her relatable to many and endeared her to the public. Tragically, Diana's life was cut short when she died in a car crash in Paris in 1997. Her untimely death shocked the world and led to an outpouring of grief from millions of people. Despite her early demise, Diana's legacy continues to live on through her sons, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex. Both princes carry on their mother's philanthropic work, ensuring that Diana, Princess of Wales, remains a beloved figure in the hearts of many even decades after her death.
- Birthplace: Sandringham, England
- William Melvin Hicks (December 16, 1961 – February 26, 1994) was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, satirist and musician. His material—encompassing a wide range of social issues including religion, politics, and philosophy—was controversial and often steeped in dark comedy. At the age of 16, while still in high school, Hicks began performing at the Comedy Workshop in Houston, Texas. During the 1980s, he toured the U.S. extensively and made a number of high-profile television appearances, but it was in the UK that he amassed a significant fan base, filling large venues during his 1991 tour. He also achieved some recognition as a guitarist and songwriter. Hicks died of pancreatic cancer on February 26, 1994, at the age of 32. In subsequent years, his work gained significant acclaim in creative circles—particularly after a series of posthumous album releases—and he developed a substantial cult following. In 2007, he was No. 6 on Channel 4's list of the "100 Greatest Stand-Up Comics", and rose to No. 4 on the 2010 list. In 2017, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him No. 13 on its list of the 50 best stand-up comics of all time.
- Birthplace: Valdosta, Georgia, USA
- Dave Mustaine, born on September 13, 1961, etched his name in the annals of rock history as one of the pioneering figures of thrash metal, a sub-genre of heavy metal music. His journey began in La Mesa, California, where he spent an unruly and tumultuous childhood that fueled his passion for music. He established himself as a leading guitarist and vocalist in the industry, known for his distinctively snarling performance style and intricate guitar work. Mustaine's career took off when he co-founded Metallica in 1981, serving as the original lead guitarist. However, his tenure with Metallica was short-lived due to personal and professional disputes, leading to his expulsion from the band in 1983. Unfazed by this setback, Mustaine picked up the pieces and founded Megadeth, a band that would go on to be regarded as one of the "big four" bands of thrash metal. Under his leadership, Megadeth released several acclaimed albums like Peace Sells...But Who's Buying? and Rust in Peace, which are considered classic masterpieces of the genre. Beyond his musical prowess, Mustaine is also recognized for his outspoken political views, which often found their way into his songwriting. He battled with numerous personal issues throughout his life, including substance abuse and cancer, but his ability to overcome these challenges only strengthened his legacy. His unique blend of technical virtuosity and raw aggression continues to inspire countless musicians around the world.
- Birthplace: USA, California, La Mesa
- Amy Sedaris, a multifaceted American talent, is known for her exceptional work in both the comedy and literature worlds. Born on March 29, 1961, in Endicott, New York, she established herself as a prominent writer, comedian, and actress. With her distinctive characters and comedic style, Sedaris ingratiates herself to audiences with her unique blend of humor and satire. Sedaris's esteemed career in entertainment began with her role in the comedy group, The Second City, and later evolved through her iconic character Jerri Blank on Comedy Central's series Strangers with Candy. This cult classic showcased her versatility and solidified her status within the comedy realm. Simultaneously, Sedaris built an impressive reputation as an author. Her books, I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence and Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People, brought her recognition in the literature world as they exhibit her creative writing flair combined with her sharp wit. Despite her fame and success in acting and writing, Sedaris doesn't limit herself to these talents. She has also dipped her toes into the world of voice-over work in several animated films such as Shrek the Third and Puss in Boots, proving her range beyond live-action roles. A dynamic force in the world of entertainment, Amy Sedaris continues to bring laughter and joy through her diverse portfolio of work.
- Birthplace: Endicott, New York, USA
- Actress Carey Lowell followed in the footsteps of Ursula Andress, Jill St. John and Barbara Bach to play CIA agent Pam Bouvier opposite Timothy Dalton in "License to Kill" (1989). Eschewing the typical wallflower personas of some previous Bond girls, Lowell adopted a tough and confrontational style for her character while still maintaining plenty of glamour. Lowell followed her turn in the Bond universe with parts in "The Guardian" (1990), "Road to Ruin" (1992) and "Love Affair" (1994). Eventually, she had a regular series role as district attorney Jamie Ross on the popular and long-running procedural "Law & Order" (NBC, 1990-2010), but left after two seasons to focus on motherhood. She did make appearances in "Empire Falls" (HBO, 2005) and on "Six Degrees" (ABC, 2006-07).
- Birthplace: Huntington, New York, USA
- Christopher Meloni, an American actor, has made a name for himself in the entertainment industry with his versatile acting prowess. Born in Washington D.C. on April 2, 1961, Meloni pursued his passion for acting after completing his education at the University of Colorado Boulder. He began his acting career in the late 1980s, making appearances in television series like 1st & Ten and films such as Runaway Bride. However, it was his portrayal of NYPD Detective Elliot Stabler in the popular TV series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit that catapulted Meloni into the limelight and established him as a prominent figure in the world of television. Meloni's performance in Law & Order: SVU not only won him critical acclaim but also earned him an Emmy nomination in 2006. His nuanced portrayal of a detective dealing with heinous crimes against vulnerable victims showcased his ability to handle complex character arcs, thereby proving his mettle as a skilled actor. Beyond his notable role in Law & Order: SVU, Meloni has exhibited his versatility in various other roles across multiple genres. His performances in HBO's prison drama Oz as the sociopath Chris Keller, and in the comedic series Wet Hot American Summer as the cook Gene, further demonstrate his wide-ranging abilities. In addition to his television roles, Meloni has also made significant contributions to the film industry. He has appeared in numerous films, including Man of Steel, 42, and They Came Together, displaying his adaptability as an actor.
- Birthplace: Washington, D.C., USA
- Billy Ray Cyrus, the multi-platinum selling country music artist and actor, was brought to life on August 25, 1961, in Flatwoods, Kentucky. Known for his dynamic musical career and distinct acting roles, Cyrus is a name that resonates with both the young and old generations. He has been an influential figure in the entertainment industry, making significant contributions in both the music and film sectors. Cyrus's journey into music commenced in the early 1990s, where he quickly garnered international attention with his debut single, "Achy Breaky Heart". This song climbed the charts in twenty different countries and became the first single ever to achieve triple Platinum status in Australia. His debut album, Some Gave All, occupied the number one spot on Billboard's Top 200 Album chart for 17 consecutive weeks. Over the course of his musical career, Cyrus has released over a dozen studio albums, demonstrating his versatile talent as a singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Apart from his music career, Cyrus ventured into acting and gained fame through his role as Robby Stewart, the loving yet dorky father on Disney Channel's hit show, Hannah Montana, wherein he starred alongside his real-life daughter, Miley Cyrus. His performance in the series garnered substantial acclaim, and further cemented his standing in the industry. Beyond Hannah Montana, Cyrus has showcased his acting prowess in various other television shows and movies.
- Birthplace: Flatwoods, USA, Kentucky
- Carol Patricia Smillie (born 23 December 1961) is a Scottish television presenter, actress, entrepreneur, humanist celebrant, and a former model. Smillie became famous as a presenter on British TV during the 1990s and early 2000s. She was best known for assisting Nicky Campbell on the UK version of the game show Wheel of Fortune between 1989 and 1994. and as the main presenter on the BBC One home improvement show Changing Rooms from 1996–2003.After leaving the Glasgow School of Art, Smillie was a model throughout the 1980s. Her break in television came in 1989 when she auditioned for the role of hostess on Wheel of Fortune After leaving the show in 1994, Smillie appeared on the BBC television channel, firstly as a reporter on The Travel Show, and then the Holiday show. Eventually becoming the programme's main presenter. The DIY programme Changing Rooms established her name and led to her presenting other primetime shows for the BBC, such as the National Lottery and her own morning chat show Smillie's People.In 2012 Smillie decided to leave mainstream TV and created a new business venture, launching a brand of leak-proof underwear for women, named DiaryDoll. This was later changed to Pretty Clever Pants. In 2018 Smillie relinquished control of her business, licensing the brand to the company High Street TV.As of 2018, Smillie qualified as a humanist celebrant with the Humanist Society Scotland, and is now pursuing a career conducting humanist, non-religious weddings, funerals and baby-namings.Smillie is also known for her smile, which was caricatured by the British impressionist Ronni Ancona in the UK television show Big Impression. Ancona's impression of Smillie used the catchphrase "I’m Smiley Smiley Carol Smillie", which Smillie adopted and has entered into popular culture when referring to her or a person of a smiley disposition.
- Birthplace: Glasgow, Scotland
- David Byrne, the celebrated musician, artist and writer, was born on May 14, 1952, in Dumbarton, Scotland. Raised in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and Arbutus, Maryland, USA, this cross-cultural upbringing fed into his eclectic style and innovative artistic approach. Byrne attended the Rhode Island School of Design and the Maryland Institute College of Art before dropping out to form the legendary rock band, Talking Heads, in 1975. As co-founder, lead vocalist and guitarist of Talking Heads, Byrne was instrumental in shaping the American new wave scene. His unique blend of punk, rock, world music and funk-funk, coupled with his quirky on-stage persona, earned him a legion of fans and critical acclaim worldwide. Throughout its existence, the band released eight studio albums, including the multi-platinum Speaking in Tongues. After their split in 1991, Byrne continued his musical journey as a solo artist. His discography boasts several critically acclaimed albums, such as Rei Momo and Look into the Eyeball. In addition to his musical pursuits, Byrne's artistic endeavors stretch across various media. He has directed and scored films; his work on The Last Emperor won him an Academy Award. He's also an accomplished author, with books like Bicycle Diaries and How Music Works demonstrating his wide-ranging thoughts on culture and the arts. Byrne's impact on the music industry and wider cultural landscape is indisputable - he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002 and named one of Time's 100 most influential people in 2018. His ability to seamlessly meld different art forms and create thought-provoking work continues to resonate with audiences globally.
- Birthplace: Dumbarton, Scotland
- Abigail Pierrepont Johnson (born December 19, 1961) is an American billionaire businesswoman. Since 2014, Johnson has been president and chief executive officer of American investment firm Fidelity Investments (FMR), and chairman of its international sister company Fidelity International (FIL). Fidelity was founded by her grandfather Edward C. Johnson II. Her father Edward C. "Ned" Johnson III remains chairman emeritus of FMR. As of March 2013, the Johnson family owned a 49% stake in the company, with Johnson herself holding an estimated 24.5%.In November 2016, Johnson was named chairman and will remain CEO and president, giving her full control of Fidelity with 45,000 employees worldwide. Johnson's wealth is approximately $16 billion, making her one of the world's wealthiest women.
- Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts
- Frederick Carlton "Carl" Lewis (born July 1, 1961) is an American former track and field athlete who won nine Olympic gold medals, one Olympic silver medal, and 10 World Championships medals, including eight gold. His career spanned from 1979 to 1996, when he last won an Olympic event. He is one of only three Olympic athletes who won a gold medal in the same individual event in four consecutive Olympic Games. Lewis was a dominant sprinter and long jumper who topped the world rankings in the 100 m, 200 m and long jump events frequently from 1981 to the early 1990s. He set world records in the 100 m, 4 × 100 m and 4 × 200 m relays, while his world record in the indoor long jump has stood since 1984. His 65 consecutive victories in the long jump achieved over a span of 10 years is one of the sport's longest undefeated streaks. Over the course of his athletics career, Lewis broke ten seconds for the 100 meters 15 times and 20 seconds for the 200 meters 10 times. Lewis also long jumped over 28 feet 71 times. His accomplishments have led to numerous accolades, including being voted "World Athlete of the Century" by the International Association of Athletics Federations and "Sportsman of the Century" by the International Olympic Committee, "Olympian of the Century" by Sports Illustrated and "Athlete of the Year" by Track & Field News in 1982, 1983, and 1984. After retiring from his athletics career, Lewis became an actor and has appeared in a number of films. In 2011, he attempted to run for a seat as a Democrat in the New Jersey Senate, but was removed from the ballot due to the state's residency requirement. Lewis owns a marketing and branding company named C.L.E.G., which markets and brands products and services including his own.
- Birthplace: Birmingham, USA, Alabama
- Aaron Sorkin, widely recognized as one of the most respected and celebrated screenwriters in Hollywood, was born in 1961 in New York City. He burst onto the scene with his debut play, A Few Good Men, which he wrote on cocktail napkins during his bartending nights. This play was later turned into a blockbuster film starring Jack Nicholson and Tom Cruise, solidifying Sorkin's reputation in the entertainment industry. Sorkin's career widened when he transitioned into television, creating and writing critically acclaimed shows such as The West Wing and The Newsroom. His unique storytelling style, characterized by rapid-fire dialogue and complex political narratives, has earned him numerous accolades, including multiple Emmy Awards. Yet, his work is not limited to television. His screenplay for The Social Network, a film about the inception of Facebook, earned him an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. In addition to his writing prowess, Aaron Sorkin ventured into directing, making his directorial debut with Molly's Game, a high-stakes poker drama based on a true story. The film was praised for its sharp dialogues and narrative progression, reflecting Sorkin's signature style. Despite his success, Sorkin remains grounded, often attributing his accomplishments to his early theater experiences and diligent work ethic. His talent for compelling scriptwriting continues to shape the landscape of modern cinema and television.
- Birthplace: New York, New York, USA
- Bonnie Hunt, a multi-talented personality from Chicago, Illinois, has made significant contributions to the entertainment industry as an actress, comedian, director, producer, and television host. Born on September 22, 1961, she grew up in a large Irish Catholic family where she developed her comedic skills early. Bonnie initially pursued a career in nursing at Northwestern University, but her love for improvisation led her to co-found the infamous Chicago-based comedy troupe, Annoyance Theatre. Hunt's breakthrough came in the late 1980s when she caught the attention of director Barry Levinson, who cast her in his film Rain Man, starring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise. This role marked the beginning of a prolific acting career, with notable performances in films such as Jumanji, Jerry Maguire, and The Green Mile. Her distinctive voice also brought to life beloved characters in animated films like A Bug's Life, Monsters, Inc., and the Cars franchise. In addition to her successful acting career, Bonnie Hunt has left an indelible mark behind the scenes. She created and produced The Building, Bonnie, and Life with Bonnie, showcasing her comedic writing and producing talents. Her creativity extended to daytime television where she hosted The Bonnie Hunt Show, earning multiple Daytime Emmy nominations. Hunt's multifaceted career demonstrates her incredible versatility and commitment to entertainment, making her a respected figure in Hollywood.
- Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Award-winning director Alfonso Cuaron, native of Mexico City, Mexico, began making short-films while in college. After graduation, he began working in a variety of roles within the Mexican film and television industry. He was allowed behind the camera to direct, as well as write, multiple episodes of the horror anthology television show "Hora Marcada" (Las Estrellas, 1988-90). He graduated to directing features when he helmed the sex comedy "Solo con Tu Pareja" (1991). He entered the U.S. market when he directed an episode of the anthology series "Fallen Angels" (Showtime, 1993-95). He followed with his first English-language feature, "A Little Princess" (1995), an adaptation of the popular children's book. His next project was also based on a famous piece of literature when he brought a modernization of Charles Dickens' "Great Expectations" (1998) to the screen. He returned to Mexico and set himself apart from many of his contemporaries when he wrote and directed "Y Tu Mama Tambien" (2001). The story of a pair of teenage boys on a road trip with an older, married woman found an audience across languages and earned international notice. It also earned Cuaron his first Academy Award nomination for writing. He jumped into big budget fare when he was tabbed to direct the third film in the "Harry Potter" series, "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" (2004). He joined a host of directors, including Alexander Payne and Gus Van Sant, in directing a segment of the film "Paris, je t'aime" (2006). His adaptation of the P.D. James dystopian novel "Children of Men" (2006) earned him a fresh round of acclaim. His next feature, though, helped him make history. Working from a script that he co-authored with his son, Jonas Cuaron, he directed Sandra Bullock and George Clooney in the space drama "Gravity" (2013). The film went on to win seven Oscars, including a win for its director. That made Cuaron the first Latin American filmmaker to achieve that honor. Turning to television, he created the short-lived fantasy drama "Believe" (NBC, 2014), which proved to be a rare misfire. He rebounded in grand fashion, however, in his return to feature directing. Based in part on his own experience as a youngster, "Roma" (2018), which he produced, wrote, directed, and edited, was hailed across the world. The film earned 10 Academy Award nominations, including Cuaron's second nods for both writing and directing.
- Birthplace: Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
- Virtually an unknown commodity when he took over as co-anchor of ABC's "World News Tonight," Bob Woodruff had been a foreign correspondent for the second place nightly news program for years. Despite plenty of air time during major news stories, audiences were hard-pressed to put a name to a face when he and former "20/20" host Elizabeth Vargas began delivering the nightly news in January 2006, following the death of longtime anchor Peter Jennings from lung cancer in August 2005. More at home abroad than in a New York studio, Woodruff wanted to step out from behind the anchor desk to report from all corners of the globe, particularly from the Middle East and the war in Iraq. Despite the danger, he nonetheless enjoyed the challenge and the opportunity to report on stories firsthand. Unfortunately, less than a month after assuming his prestigious new post, Woodruff was seriously injured in a bombing attack in Iraq.
- Birthplace: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, USA
- Angela Fick Braly (born July 2, 1961; Dallas, Texas) is an American executive. She served as President and Chief Executive Officer of WellPoint (now Anthem, a large U.S.-based provider of health insurance, and was a member of the company's board of directors. She assumed those responsibilities on June 1, 2007, following several high-profile roles for the company. She resigned in August 2012 due to shareholder criticism. Since May 2016, she has been a member of the board of directors of ExxonMobil.
- Birthplace: Dallas, Texas
- When the series he created, "Beverly Hills, 90210" premiered on Fox in 1990 and launched his career, Darren Star was credited by some with energizing the network and with reviving the Spelling TV empire. Prior to "90210," Star's entire writing output had amounted to an unproduced "Charles in Charge" spec script and two features, "Doing Time on Planet Earth" (1988), a failed comedy about a teenager convinced he must be from another planet, and "If Looks Could Kill" (1991), a teenage spy spoof that was supposed to turn Richard Grieco into a film star but didn't.
- Birthplace: Potomac, Maryland, USA
- Dinesh D'Souza is a director, producer, writer, and actor who is known for directing "Death of a Nation," "Hillary's America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party," and "America: Imagine A World Without Her."
- Birthplace: Bombay, India
- Descended from European royalty, Catherine Oxenberg caused a sensation when she played Lady Di in "The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana" (CBS, 1982). Her international glamour served her well as Amanda Carrington, the daughter of America's favorite villainess Alexis (Joan Collins) on "Dynasty" (ABC, 1981-89), and she hosted an episode of "Saturday Night Live" (NBC, 1975- ) at the peak of her fame. Oxenberg left "Dynasty" after two seasons and struggled to find a suitable follow-up, appearing in Ken Russell's cult horror flick "The Lair of the White Worm" (1988), the downbeat "Charles and Diana: Unhappily Ever After" (ABC, 1992), and one season of the lightweight action series "Acapulco H.E.A.T." (syndicated, 1993-99). Her nine-day, annulled 1998 marriage to legendary producer Robert Evans made headlines, but she had better luck marrying actor Casper Van Dien in 1999. The couple starred in the Christian thriller "The Omega Code" (1999) and a reality show based on their lives, "I Married a Princess" (Lifetime, 2005). Although her stardom was brief, Catherine Oxenberg could boast a life as colorful and interesting as that of many of her royal relatives.
- Birthplace: New York, New York, USA
- Crystal Lynn Bernard (born September 30, 1961) is an American singer-songwriter and actress, best known for her role on the sitcom Wings. She has appeared in film and has pursued a music career.
- Birthplace: Garland, Texas, USA
- Ally Walker, a highly accomplished actress and director, has been an iconic figure in the entertainment industry for decades. Born on August 25, 1961, in Tullahoma, Tennessee, she initially pursued a career in genetic engineering before finding her true calling in acting. She holds a degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of California, Santa Cruz, exemplifying her intellectual prowess. Walker's transition from a science background to a creative arts field showcases her multi-faceted personality and adaptability. Walker's acting career began in the mid-1980s with minor roles in television commercials before she made her mark with significant roles in popular TV series. One of her most renowned performances was in NBC's crime drama series Profiler, where she portrayed the character of Dr. Samantha Waters, a detective with the ability to profile criminals. This role earned her recognition and critical acclaim, solidifying her position as a versatile and talented actress. Besides this, Walker also shone brightly in the FX series Sons of Anarchy where she played the role of Agent June Stahl, once again demonstrating her flair for complex characters. However, Ally Walker's talent isn't confined to acting alone. She took a leap into direction and screenwriting with the film For Norman‚ Wherever You Are, which won the Best Short at the Seattle International Film Festival. This venture marked a new chapter in her career, extending her creative influence beyond acting. Despite having a diverse career, Walker has managed to maintain a strong presence in the entertainment industry, embodying a rare blend of intellect, talent, and versatility that continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
- Birthplace: Tullahoma, Tennessee, USA
- Constantine Alexander Payne (; born February 10, 1961) is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer, known for the films Election (1999), About Schmidt (2002), Sideways (2004), The Descendants (2011), Nebraska (2013), and Downsizing (2017). His films are noted for their dark humor and satirical depictions of contemporary American society. Payne is a two-time winner of the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, and a three-time nominee of the Academy Award for Best Director.
- Birthplace: USA, Nebraska, Omaha
- Daniel Dale Johnston (born January 22, 1961) is an American singer-songwriter and visual artist who is regarded as a significant figure in outsider, lo-fi, and alternative music scenes. Most of his work consists of cassettes recorded alone in his home, and his music is frequently cited for its "pure and childlike soul".Johnston has spent extended periods in psychiatric institutions and has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. He gathered a local following in the 1980s by passing out tapes of his music while working at a McDonald's in Austin, Texas. His cult status was propelled when Nirvana's Kurt Cobain was seen wearing a T-shirt that featured artwork from Johnston's 1983 album Hi, How Are You. In 2005, Johnston was the subject of the documentary The Devil and Daniel Johnston.
- Birthplace: USA, California, Sacramento
- Dan Marino, one of the most celebrated American professional football players, was born on September 15, 1961, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He attended Central Catholic High School and later enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh, where his prowess on the gridiron began to shine through. Marino's exceptional skill and talent for the game were evident early on, making him a standout player during his collegiate years. His remarkable performance led him to be selected in the first round of the 1983 National Football League (NFL) Draft by the Miami Dolphins. Marino's career with the Dolphins spanned 17 seasons from 1983 to 1999, during which he established himself as one of the finest quarterbacks in NFL history. Known for his quick release and powerful arm, Marino shattered numerous league records. Among his many achievements, he was the first NFL quarterback to throw for over 5,000 yards in a single season and the first to complete over 60 percent of his passes in ten seasons. Marino was also named an All-Pro selection nine times, and was chosen for the Pro Bowl on twelve occasions, a testament to his consistent high-level performance. Despite his individual success, Marino's ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl eluded him throughout his career. Despite this, his legacy in the sport is undeniable. Marino was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005, a fitting tribute to his significant contributions to the game. Post-retirement, Marino transitioned into broadcasting, serving as an analyst for CBS Sports, further solidifying his standing within the football community. His life off the field is marked by his philanthropic efforts, particularly the Dan Marino Foundation, which supports children with neurodevelopmental disorders.
- Birthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Charles Wright (born May 16, 1961) is an American semi-retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his tenure with the World Wrestling Federation throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, where he performed under the ring names Sir Charles, Papa Shango, Kama, Kama Mustafa, The Godfather and The Goodfather. Among other accolades, Wright is a two-time USWA Unified World Heavyweight Champion, a one-time WWF Intercontinental Champion, and a one-time WWF Tag Team Champion (with Bull Buchanan). He headlined Saturday Night's Main Event XXXI against Bret Hart for the WWF Championship. Wright was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on April 2, 2016, under the Godfather gimmick.
- Birthplace: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Busty Heart
Age: 63Susan Sykes (born May 9, 1961) is a television personality and actress who has appeared in films such as The Dictator (alongside Sacha Baron Cohen and Sir Ben Kingsley) and Deported, as well as several television shows, who performs under the stage name Busty Heart.- Birthplace: Boston, USA, Massachusetts
Cindy Guyer
Age: 63Cindy Guyer is an American model, actress and restaurateur from Stamford, Connecticut.- Birthplace: USA, Connecticut, Stamford
- Chris Chavis (born June 8, 1961) is a Native American professional wrestler currently signed to WWE under a legend's contract. He is part of the Lumbee tribe. He is best known for his work with the World Wrestling Federation (later known as World Wrestling Entertainment) under the ring name Tatanka from 1991 to 1996 and 2005 to 2007. His ring name is a Lakota word that means "buffalo".
- Birthplace: Pembroke, North Carolina, USA
- David Bruce Vitter (born May 3, 1961) is an American lobbyist, lawyer, and politician who served as United States Senator for Louisiana from 2005 to 2017. He was the first Republican elected to the Senate from his state since the Reconstruction Era. Previously, he served in the United States House of Representatives, representing the suburban Louisiana's 1st congressional district. He served as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives before entering the U.S. House. After his Senate term ended, Vitter joined the Washington, D.C. lobbying firm, Mercury LLC, for which he will focus such issues as energy, transportation, banking, the judiciary, military, and small business.In 2010, Vitter won a second Senate term by defeating a Democrat, then U.S. Representative Charlie Melancon of Napoleonville in Assumption Parish. In the Republican primary held on August 28, 2010, Vitter handily defeated former Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Chet D. Traylor of Monroe, formerly from Winnsboro. Vitter unsuccessfully ran for governor to succeed the term-limited Bobby Jindal in the 2015 gubernatorial election. He lost in the general election to Democrat John Bel Edwards, a state representative from Tangipahoa Parish, in the November 21 general election for the governorship, who led a multi-candidate field in the primary. After conceding defeat to Edwards, Vitter announced that he would not seek reelection to his Senate seat in 2016 and would retire from office at the completion of his term.In 2007, Vitter admitted to and apologized for prior involvement with a Washington, D.C. escort service. He was first accused of soliciting a prostitute by a New Orleans newspaper in 2002. Since the statute of limitations for prostitution had expired when the scandal was uncovered, Vitter was never charged with a crime.
- Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Alan Davies
Dec. at 30 (1961-1992)Alan Davies (5 December 1961 – 4 February 1992) was an English-born Welsh international footballer who played as a right winger, although he could also play on the left. Davies began his football career with Manchester United, before spending time with Newcastle United, Charlton Athletic, Carlisle United, Swansea City (two spells) and Bradford City. Davies committed suicide in February 1992.- Birthplace: Manchester, United Kingdom
- Margaret Jane "Dee Dee" Myers (born September 1, 1961) is an American political analyst who served as the seventeenth White House Press Secretary during the first two years of the Clinton administration. She was the first woman and the second-youngest person to hold that position. Myers later co-hosted the news program Equal Time on CNBC, and was a consultant on The West Wing. She was the inspiration for fictional White House Press Secretary C. J. Cregg. She is also the author of the 2008 New York Times best-selling book, Why Women Should Rule the World. In 2010, she became a managing director of public affairs at The Glover Park Group.
- Birthplace: Quonset Point
- David Nicola Cicilline (; born July 15, 1961) is an American politician who has been the U.S. Representative for Rhode Island's 1st congressional district since 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He previously served as Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island, from 2003 to 2011, and was the first openly gay mayor of a U.S. state capital.
- Birthplace: Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Brian Ernest Orser, (born 18 December 1961) is a Canadian former competitive and professional figure skater. He is the 1984 and 1988 Olympic silver medallist, 1987 World champion and eight-time (1981–88) Canadian national champion. At the 1988 Winter Olympics, the rivalry between Orser and American figure skater Brian Boitano, who were the two favorites to win the gold medal, captured media attention and was described as the "Battle of the Brians". Orser turned professional in 1988 and skated with Stars on Ice for almost 20 years. As a coach, he has led both Yuna Kim (2010) and Yuzuru Hanyu (2014, 2018) to Olympic titles. He also coached Javier Fernández to Olympic bronze (2018) and the 2015 and 2016 World titles. He is a Skating Consultant at the Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club.
- Birthplace: Belleville, Canada
- David Carl Alexander Allison (February 25, 1961 – July 13, 1993) was a NASCAR driver. He was best known for driving the No. 28 Texaco-Havoline Ford for Robert Yates Racing in the Winston Cup Series (now the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series). Born in Hollywood, Florida, he was the oldest of four children born to Bobby and Judy Allison. The family moved to Hueytown, Alabama, and along with Bobby Allison’s brother, Donnie, Red Farmer and Neil Bonnett, became known as the Alabama Gang.
- Birthplace: USA, Florida, Hollywood
- Cyril Ikechukwu Nri (born 25 April 1961) is a Nigerian British actor, writer and director who is best known for playing Superintendent Adam Okaro in the police TV series The Bill.
- Birthplace: Nigeria
- Described by his Kids in the Hall cohorts as "the socially retarded but lovable member" of the comedy troupe, sweet-faced, big-eyed Bruce McCulloch met Mark McKinney while working with the Loose Moose Theatre Company in his native Calgary. After forming 'The Audience' together, the duo moved to Toronto, eventually teaming with Kevin McDonald, Dave Foley and Scott Thompson as 'The Kids in the Hall' (the group's name coming from the description Jack Benny used for young writers who were trying to sell him gags). Through years of live performing, the quintet honed its shtick, a distinctive mix of zany antics, ribald humor, somewhat surreal moments and musings on life, before Lorne Michaels, a Toronto native best known for creating NBC's "Saturday Night Live," launched them in 1989, producing their Canadian TV show (aired in the USA on HBO, CBS and Comedy Central). Boyishly cute, but shorter and more muscular than his compatriots, McCulloch frequently appeared in women's clothing (as did the others), not just for drag novelty, but to create full-bodied female characters.
- Birthplace: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Debbie Linden
Dec. at 36 (1961-1997)Debbie Linden (22 February 1961 – 6 October 1997) was a Scottish-born glamour model and actress best known for her career in England, especially her role as old Mr Grace's secretary in the sitcom Are You Being Served? (1981). Born in Glasgow, she played roles in various other TV series, such as The Professionals, Just Good Friends, Bergerac, and The Bill; she appeared in several feature films, among them Home Before Midnight and The Wildcats of St Trinian's. Linden was plagued with a drug problem for years. On the night of 5 October 1997, she died of a heroin overdose at home at the age of 36. Her boyfriend, Russell Ainsworth, was acquitted of manslaughter charges but sentenced to two-and-a-half years for supplying the drug.- Birthplace: Glasgow, Scotland
- Robert Bradley James (June 15, 1962 – November 1, 2012) was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Brad Armstrong. He is best known for his appearances with the promotion World Championship Wrestling in the 1990s. He was the son of wrestler "Bullet Bob" Armstrong and brother to professional wrestlers Steve, Scott and Brian.
- Birthplace: Toronto, Canada
- Ari Emanuel (born March 29, 1961) is an American talent agent and the co-CEO of William Morris Endeavor (WME), an entertainment and media agency. He was a founding partner of the Endeavor Talent Agency and was instrumental in shaping its June 2009 merger with the William Morris Agency.
- Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois
- David Leavitt (; born June 23, 1961) is an American novelist, short story writer, and biographer.
- Birthplace: Pittsburgh, USA, Pennsylvania
- Akira Taue (田上 明, Taue Akira) (born May 8, 1961) is a retired Japanese professional wrestler. He is also a former AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion, a former GHC Heavyweight Champion and has had fourteen 5 Star Matches as awarded by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
- Birthplace: Chichibu, Japan
- Bill de Blasio (; born Warren Wilhelm Jr.; May 8, 1961) is an American politician who since 2014 has served as the 109th Mayor of New York City. Prior to his first election to the position of Mayor, he served as New York City's public advocate from 2010 to 2013. Born in Manhattan, he graduated from New York University and Columbia University before a brief stint as a campaign manager for Charles Rangel and Hillary Clinton. He started his career as an elected official by serving on the New York City Council representing the 39th district in Brooklyn from 2002 to 2009. His tenure as public advocate saw a reformation of various educational, housing, and campaign finance policies. He was elected Mayor of New York City in the landslide 2013 election and retained his office in 2017, another landslide election. He initiated new de-escalation training for officers, reduced prosecutions for cannabis possession, implemented the usage of police body cameras, and ended the post-9/11 surveillance program of Muslim residents. His signature initiative as mayor was the implementation of free universal Pre-K in the city. His effort to start a millionaire tax was rejected by New York governor Andrew Cuomo. De Blasio attempted to install an unprecedented rent-freeze citywide for rent-stabilized apartments in 2015. De Blasio has called attention to what he refers to as a stark level of economic inequality in New York City, what he described as a "tale of two cities" during his first campaign. He has publicly supported a socially liberal and progressive discourse on the city's economy, urban planning, public education, police relations, and privatization. De Blasio has maintained mixed approval rates throughout his tenure. On May 16, 2019, de Blasio declared his candidacy in the Democratic primaries for the 2020 presidential election.
- Birthplace: Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
- As an actor, director and producer, Campbell Scott - who first made an impact on moviegoers with his touching portrayal of a man living with cancer in the Julia Roberts showcase, "Dying Young" (1991) - is inarguably a dignitary of American independent film. The stage-trained Broadway actor never strayed far from the world of small, personal films, where he impressed critics and festival-goers with the difficult acting challenges he took on in the AIDS chronicle "Longtime Companion" (1989), the literary gem "Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle" (1994), and the jaded New Yorker story "Roger Dodger" (2002). Scott also earned a solid reputation as a director, first sharing duties with Stanley Tucci in the appetizing indie favorite "Big Night" (1996) before taking the helm of his own television adaptation of "Hamlet" (Hallmark Channel, 2000) and dramatic features "Final" (2001) and "Off the Map" (2005). With his soulful performances as polished but emotionally clueless professionals and brilliantly nuanced oddballs, Scott well deserved his reputation as a champion of independent film and one of its strongest talents.
- Birthplace: New York, New York, USA
- Cary Anthony Stayner (born August 13, 1961) is an American serial killer and the older brother of kidnapping victim Steven Stayner. He was convicted of the murders of four women between February and July 1999: Carole Sund, her teenage daughter Juli Sund and their teenage traveling companion Silvina Pelosso; and Yosemite Institute naturalist Joie Ruth Armstrong. The murders occurred in Mariposa County, California, near Yosemite National Park. Stayner was sentenced to death for the four murders, and is still on death row at San Quentin Penitentiary in California.
- Birthplace: Merced, California
- Influential character designer, producer and director Bruce Timm helped change the face of superhero animation when he shepherded "Batman: The Animated Series" (Fox, 1992-95) to phenomenal success. A frustrated comic book artist, he turned to animation, getting his career start as a layout assistant on cartoons like "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" (syndicated, 1983-85). Eventually landing at Warner Bros. Television Animation, Timm lent his talents to "Tiny Toons Adventures" (syndicated, 1990-92), before being put in charge of the game-changing "Batman" series. Soon the doors to traditional comics opened as well, allowing the artist to contribute to several books, including the award-winning "Mad Love" issue of The Batman Adventures in 1994. Much in demand, Timm went on to helm "Superman" (The WB, 1996-2000) and "Batman Beyond" (The WB, 1999-2001). He further expanded the scope of the animated superhero landscape with the series "Justice League" (Cartoon Network, 2001-04) and direct-to-DVD movies like "Justice League: The New Frontier" (2008). As the live-action comics-to-film craze reached its zenith during the first decade of the 21st Century, Timm and his fellow animation collaborators enjoyed the satisfaction of knowing that it was their groundbreaking work years earlier that was largely responsible for paving the way for mainstream acceptance of the beloved genre.
- Birthplace: Oklahoma, USA
- David Brooks (born August 11, 1961) is a Canadian-born American political and cultural commentator who writes for The New York Times. He has worked as a film critic for The Washington Times, a reporter and later op-ed editor for The Wall Street Journal, a senior editor at The Weekly Standard from its inception, a contributing editor at Newsweek, and The Atlantic Monthly, and a commentator on NPR and PBS NewsHour..
- Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Carlos Pacheco
Age: 63Carlos Pacheco (; born November 14, 1962) is a Spanish comics artist and penciller. He is best known in the United States for his work on titles such as Avengers Forever, X-Men and Green Lantern.- Birthplace: San Roque, Spain
- Alan Goodwin "Dex" Poindexter (November 5, 1961 – July 1, 2012) was an American naval officer and a NASA astronaut. Poindexter was selected in the 1998 NASA Group (G17) and went into orbit aboard Space Shuttle missions STS-122 and STS-131.
- Birthplace: Pasadena, California
- Christopher J. Ferguson (born September 1, 1961) is a Boeing commercial astronaut and a retired United States Navy Captain and NASA astronaut. He was the pilot of Space Shuttle Atlantis on his first mission to space, STS-115, which launched on September 9, 2006 and returned to Earth on September 21, 2006. He then commanded STS-126 aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour. In 2011, he was assigned as commander of STS-135, which was the final mission of the space shuttle program. On December 9, 2011, he retired from NASA and became director of Crew and Mission Operations for Boeing's Commercial Crew Program. In August 2018, Ferguson was assigned to the first test flight of the Boeing CST-100 Starliner.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Daniel Francis Noel O'Donnell (born 12 December 1961) is an Irish singer, television presenter and philanthropist. After rising to public attention in 1983 he has since become a household name in Ireland and Britain; he has also had considerable success in the US and Australia. In 2012, he became the first artist to have a different album in the British charts every year for 25 consecutive years.Known for his close relationship with his fanbase, and his charismatic and engaging stage presence, O'Donnell's music has been described as a mix of country and Irish folk, and he has sold over ten million records to date. He is widely considered a "cultural icon" in Ireland, and is often parodied in the media. Affectionately known as "Wee Daniel", O'Donnell is a prominent ambassador for his home county of Donegal.
- Birthplace: Republic of Ireland
Deirdre P. Connelly
Age: 64Deirdre P. Connelly has been President for Eli Lilly USA division of Eli Lilly Co. since June 1, 2005. Ms. Connelly joined Eli Lilly Co. as a Sales Representative in 1984 and served as Senior Vice President of Human resources since October 2004 and also served as Executive Director of Human Resources for the U.S.A affiliate since 2003. She has been Director of Macy's Inc. since January 2008. Ms. Connelly received a Bachelor's degree in Economics and Marketing from Lycoming College in Pennsylvania in 1983. She graduated from the Harvard University's Advanced Management Program in 2000.- Birthplace: San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Alexander Bengt Magnus Bard (born 17 March 1961) is a Swedish songwriter, record producer, TV personality, religious and political activist, and one of two founders of Syntheistic religious movement alongside with Jan Söderqvist.
- Birthplace: Motala Municipality, Sweden
- Ben Jeffrey Peter Summerskill (born 6 October 1961 in Kent) is Chair of The Silver Line and Director of the Criminal Justice Alliance, a consortium of 135 charities working across the GB criminal justice pathway. He was the Chief Executive of the UK-based lesbian, gay and bisexual equality organisation Stonewall, the largest gay equality body in Europe, from 2003 to 2014. He has a twin sister, Clare, who is a performer. He has also worked as a businessman and journalist. Ben Summerskill is an occasional contributor to The Guardian, The Independent on Sunday, The Observer, The Times, Time Out and other publications. In 2015 he won a Lifetime Achievement Award at the British LGBT Awards In 2017, he was appointed by the UK government to the Council (Board) of ACAS, the Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service. He was first appointed a trustee of the Silver Line in 2017.
- Birthplace: Kent, United Kingdom
- Hong Kong-born actor and singer Andy Lau has achieved idol status in Asia. He got his start in the 1980s, appearing in several popular shows in Hong Kong, gaining fame as one of the "Five Tigers" group of actors. Lau also had a burgeoning film career, appearing in director Wong Kar-Wai's classic debut, "As Tears Go By," in 1988 and the drama "A Moment of Romance" in 1990. His star continued to rise in the new millennium with roles in the 2002 action film "Infernal Affairs" and the martial-arts hit "House of Flying Daggers." Lau has also had many number one hits on the Asian pop charts.
- Birthplace: Tai Po, Hong Kong
The 90 Best Andy Lau MoviesSee all
- 1Infernal Affairs50 Votes
- 2Running Out of Time34 Votes
- 3Fulltime Killer29 Votes
- Allen Bernard West (born February 7, 1961) is an American political commentator, retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, author, and former member of the U.S. House of Representatives. A member of the Republican Party, West represented Florida's 22nd congressional district in the House from 2011 to 2013. West was deployed to Kuwait in 1991 and Iraq in 2003. In 2003, West was charged in an incident that involved the beating and simulated execution of an Iraqi policeman. After an Article 32 hearing was held, West accepted non-judicial punishment, was fined $5,000, and allowed to retire as a lieutenant colonel.After leaving the military, West moved to Florida, where he taught at a high school for a year and worked for a defense contractor, part of this time spent in Afghanistan as a civilian adviser to the Afghan National Army. West entered politics in 2008 as the Republican nominee for Florida's 22nd congressional district in 2008, losing to Democratic incumbent Ron Klein. In a re-match in 2010, he won the seat, coinciding with significant Republican gains in the 2010 midterm elections. West took office in January 2011 as the first African-American Republican member of Congress from Florida since Josiah T. Walls left office in 1876 near the end of Reconstruction. In Congress, West was a high-profile member of the Tea Party Caucus and the Tea Party movement.Redistricting due to the 2010 census resulted in West switching to Florida's 18th congressional district for the 2012 House elections. He lost to Democratic nominee Patrick Murphy in what was the most expensive congressional race in U.S. history at the time.In July 2019, West announced he would be running for the chairmanship of the Republican Party of Texas in 2020. He will be facing the incumbent chairman, James Dickey.He is a contributor for Fox News.
- Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Donald Arthur Mattingly (born April 20, 1961) is an American former professional baseball first baseman, coach and current manager for the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball (MLB). Nicknamed "The Hit Man" and "Donnie Baseball", he spent his entire 14-year career playing with the New York Yankees and later managed the Los Angeles Dodgers for five years. Mattingly graduated from Reitz Memorial High School in Evansville, Indiana, and was selected by the Yankees in the amateur draft. Debuting with the Yankees in 1982 after three seasons in minor league baseball, Mattingly emerged as the Yankees' starting first baseman after a successful rookie season in 1983. Mattingly was named to the American League (AL) All-Star team six times. He won nine Gold Glove Awards (an American League record for a first baseman), three Silver Slugger Awards, the 1984 AL batting title, and was the 1985 AL Most Valuable Player. Mattingly served as captain of the Yankees from 1991 through 1995, when he retired as a player. The Yankees later retired Mattingly's uniform number, 23. Mattingly is the only Yankee to have his number retired without having won a World Series with the team. Returning to the Yankees as a coach in 2004 for manager Joe Torre, he followed Torre to the Dodgers in 2008, and succeeded him as the Dodgers' manager in 2011. The Dodgers and Mattingly mutually parted ways after the 2015 season, and he became manager of the Miami Marlins.
- Birthplace: Evansville, Center Township, Indiana, USA
- Alber Elbaz (Hebrew: אלבר אלבז, born 6 February 1961) is an Israeli fashion designer. After a number of other fashion houses, he was the creative director Lanvin in Paris from 2001 until October 2015.
- Birthplace: Casablanca, Morocco
- Angie Stone (born Angela Laverne Brown; December 18, 1961) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. She rose to fame in the late 1970s as member of the hip hop trio The Sequence. Soon after, Stone began working with futuristic rap group Mantronix and singer Lenny Kravitz. In the early 1990s, she became a member of the R&B trio Vertical Hold. In 1999, Stone released her solo debut Black Diamond on Arista Records, which was certified gold and spawned the R&B number-one hit "No More Rain (In This Cloud)". After transitioning to J Records, she released another gold-seller, Mahogany Soul (2001), which included the hit single "Wish I Didn't Miss You", followed by Stone Love (2004) and The Art of Love & War (2007), her first number-one album on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.Stone ventured into acting in the 2000s, making her film debut in the comedy film The Hot Chick (2000) and her stage debut in 2003, in the role of Big Mama Morton in the Broadway musical Chicago. She has since appeared in supporting roles in films and television series as well as several musical productions, including VH1’s Celebrity Fit Club and TV One's R&B Divas, and movies such as The Fighting Temptations (2003), Pastor Brown (2009) and School Gyrls (2010). A three-time Grammy Award nominee, she has two Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards.
- Birthplace: USA, South Carolina, Columbia
- Antonia San Juan Fernández (born 22 May 1961) is a Spanish actress, director and screenwriter.
- Birthplace: Las Palmas, Spain
- Benjamin Sinclair Johnson (born December 30, 1961) is a Jamaican-born Canadian former sprinter, who was disqualified for doping after finishing third in two Olympic races and two consecutive 100 metres finishes under the world record time at the 1987 World Championships in Athletics and the 1988 Summer Olympics.
- Birthplace: Falmouth, Jamaica
- Thomas O. Staggs is the chief operating officer of The Walt Disney Company and current chairman of the company's Parks and Resorts division.
- Birthplace: Illinois
- Daniel M. Tani (born February 1, 1961) is an American engineer and a NASA astronaut. Although born in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, he considers Lombard, Illinois, to be his hometown. With Peggy Whitson, Tani conducted the 100th spacewalk on the International Space Station.
- Birthplace: Ridley Park, Pennsylvania
- Derrick R. "Dirk" Meyer (born November 24, 1961) was a former Chief Executive Officer of Advanced Micro Devices, serving in the position from July 18, 2008 to January 10, 2011.
- After getting his start writing low budget horror movies like "976-EVIL" (1988) and "A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master" (1988), writer-director Brian Helgeland developed into an Academy Award-winning scribe and one of the top script doctors in the business. Helgeland had his first taste of big-budget Hollywood filmmaking with "Assassins" (1995) and "Conspiracy Theory" (1997), both of which were directed by Richard Donner. But it was his adaptation of James Ellroy's dense crime noir "L.A. Confidential" (1997) that not only won him an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, but also launched him to the top tier of Hollywood scribes. From there, he was able to embark on his first directing effort, "Payback" (1999), a dark crime thriller that led to his sophomore helming effort, "A Knight's Tale" (2001), which became a surprise hit at the box office. Following his understated mystery thriller "The Order" (2003), Helgeland returned strictly to writing scripts, working with big name directors like Clint Eastwood on "Blood Work" (2002) and "Mystic River" (2003), Tony Scott on "The Taking of Pelham 123" (2009), and Ridley Scott on "Robin Hood" (2010).
- Birthplace: Providence, Rhode Island, USA
Brian Coleman
Age: 63Brian Coleman FRSA (born 25 June 1961) is a former Independent Conservative politician and a former councillor in the London Borough of Barnet. He was a Conservative Party member of the London Assembly for Barnet and Camden between 2000 and 2012, and in Barnet was Mayor for 2009–2010. He was also Chairman and Leader of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA) from May 2008 to 5 May 2012. Coleman was reprimanded in 2009 and 2011 for sending abusive emails to local residents who criticised him, breaching the council's code of conduct. After being charged with assault in October 2012, Coleman's membership of the Conservative Party was suspended. In May 2014, Coleman stood for re-election at the local elections as an independent candidate in the Totteridge ward, but failed to be elected gaining only 6% of the vote.- Don "DC" Curry is an American actor, writer, and producer who appeared in "Next Friday," "Grace Under Fire," and "The Steve Harvey Show."
- Birthplace: Forth Worth, Texas, USA
- Best known as the showrunner for "The Simpsons" (Fox 1989- ), the longest running American primetime scripted series of all time, Al Jean first earned his comedy stripes in the hallowed halls of the humor publication The Harvard Lampoon. The Michigan-born mathematics major had enrolled at Harvard University at the young age of 16, and though he would begin his studies in pre-med and eventually shift into math, it was his extra-curricular life at the Lampoon that would foretell the most about Jean's future career. It was there that Jean met Mike Reiss, who would become his writing partner. After graduating with his bachelor's degree in 1981, Jean teamed up with Reiss on a number of television projects, and the two were eventually hired together to write and produce for major TV series such as "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" (NBC 1962-1992) and "It's Garry Shandling's Show" (Showtime 1986-1990). When the duo was offered the chance to write for an upcoming animated series called "The Simpsons" in 1989, Jean and Reiss discovered that many of their peers had turned the same offer down, convinced that a cartoon wouldn't last long in a primetime timeslot. The two were excited about the idea, however, and signed on to help script the show's debut season. "The Simpsons" was loved by viewers and praised by critics for its mixture of emotional warmth and sharp social commentary, making it a runaway success. By its third season, Jean was working as the series' showrunner, overseeing all aspects of production. In 1994, however, after its fourth season, Jean and Reiss left the series in order to pursue their own animated project, a primetime comedy about a stuffy movie reviewer called "The Critic" (ABC / Fox 1994-95). The project featured comedy great Jon Lovitz as the voice of the main character and was executive produced by "Simpsons" creator James L. Brooks. However, as the show fluctuated between timeslots and even networks, it failed to secure an audience and was cancelled before it could see a second season, though it would go on to become a beloved cult hit on DVD. Undaunted, Jean and Reiss moved on to sign a deal with The Walt Disney Company, developing the show "Teen Angel" (ABC 1997-98). When that series also failed to pan out, Jean was eventually able to return to "The Simpsons" in 1998. By 2001, he had once again assumed the position of showrunner, though for the first time, he was doing so without Reiss. This period would prove a great success for both Jean and the entire "Simpsons" team, and he would remain with the show for years to come, even helping to write and produce the feature length "The Simpsons Movie" (2007).
- Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, USA
Busty Dusty
Age: 64- Chris Freeman (born Christopher Mark Freeman, August 8, 1961 in Seattle, Washington) is an American bassist, best known as a member of the band Pansy Division.
- Birthplace: USA, Washington, Seattle
David Armstrong-Jones, Viscount Linley
Age: 63David Albert Charles Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon (born 3 November 1961), styled as Viscount Linley until 2017 and known professionally as David Linley, is an English furniture maker and a former chairman of the auction house Christie's UK. The son of Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon, he is therefore a nephew of Queen Elizabeth II, and a grandson of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. As of May 2019, he is 21st in the line of succession to the British throne, where he is the first person who is not a direct descendant of the Queen. At the time of his birth in 1961, he was fifth.- Birthplace: Clarence House, London, United Kingdom
- Curtis Edward Warner (born March 18, 1961) is an American former professional football running back. A two-time All-American at Penn State University, Warner was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the first round of the 1983 NFL Draft. Warner was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame on December 8, 2009.Warner was the 1983 AFC Offensive Player of the Year in his rookie NFL season.
- Birthplace: Wyoming, West Virginia
- Bruce Cohen is an American producer who is best known for producing "American Beauty" and "Silver Linings Playbook." Cohen won an Academy Award in 2000 for the first project.
- Birthplace: Falls Church, Virginia, USA
- Daniela Garnero Santanchè (Italian pronunciation: [daˈnjɛːla santaŋˈkɛ]; born 7 April 1961) is an Italian entrepreneur and a politician. She has served as Undersecretary to the Minister of Minister for the Implementation of the Government Program from 2010 to 2011 in the Berlusconi IV Cabinet.
- Birthplace: Cuneo, Italy
- David Mills was an American writer and producer who was best known for writing "The Corner" and "ER." Mills won a Primetime Emmy Award in 2000 for the first project.
- Birthplace: Lanham, Maryland, USA
- Dexter Price Filkins (born May 24, 1961) is an American journalist known primarily for his coverage of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan for The New York Times. He was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize in 2002 for his dispatches from Afghanistan, and he won a Pulitzer in 2009 as part of a team of Times reporters for their dispatches from Pakistan and Afghanistan. He has been referred to as "the premier combat journalist of his generation". He currently writes for The New Yorker.
- American actor Camryn Manheim, best known for her Emmy Award-winning role as Ellenor Frutt on the legal drama "The Practice" (ABC, 1997-2004), was born in New Jersey and raised in Peoria, Illinois and Long Beach, California. Manheim first began acting in high school after she attended a Renaissance Fair. She was fascinated by the costumes and pure spectacle of it all, and immediately decided to pursue acting as a career. She would later go on to earn her BFA from the University of California, Santa Cruz, before entering the prestigious graduate acting program at New York University. After earning her MFA in acting from NYU, Manheim stayed in New York to pursue her acting career full-time. It was around this time that she began immersing herself in theater, and soon began appearing in numerous plays each year. As a day job Manheim worked at hospitals as a sign language interpreter, a skill that she would later use on an episode of "The Practice." By the mid-90s Manheim was starting to pick up bit parts in films and on television, most notably "Law & Order" (NBC, 1990-2010), "The Road to Wellville" (1994), and "Jeffrey" (1995). In 1995 Manheim also received wide acclaim for her successful one-woman show "Wake Up, I'm Fat" (1995), which appeared on stages in New York. Her big break, however, came in 1997 when she was cast on the ABC legal drama "The Practice." Manheim would eventually go on to receive an Emmy for her performance, and appeared in all 167 episodes of the series. After "The Practice" ended its run in 2004 Manheim continued racking up roles on television, including recurring parts on "Ghost Whisperer" (CBS, 2005-2010), "Extant" (CBS, 2014-15), and "Person of Interest" (CBS, 2011-16). Having been fortunate enough to have worked steadily for over 20 years, 2018 also proved to be a banner year for Manheim. In addition to joining the cast of the comedy "Living Biblically" (CBS, 2018- ), she also appeared on the historical miniseries "Waco" (Spike, 2018).
- Birthplace: Caldwell, New Jersey, USA
Cécilia Rhode
Age: 63Cécilia Catharina Björnsdotter Rodhe (surname sometimes spelled Rhode; formerly Rhodes-Noah; born 1 September 1961) is a former model, Miss Sweden 1978 and competed in the Miss Universe 1978 pageant, held in Mexico, 24 July. In the Miss Universe pageant, she finished fifth place. She is currently a sculptor.- Birthplace: Gothenburg, Sweden
- Bob Yari (born Babar Yaghoubzadeh) is an Iranian-born film producer best known for his work on the Academy Award-winning drama "Crash." Yari, the son of Iranian immigrants, grew up in New York City and trained in cinematography at the University of Santa Barbara. After making his film debut as director of the 1989 horror feature "Mind Games," Yari quit the film business and made his fortune as a real estate tycoon. Still peripherally involved in film as a financier of everything from big-budget Hollywood films to small independent features, Yari used his financial clout to help bring A-list talent to films with tighter budgets. In 2004, he served as the primary financial backer of the critically acclaimed ensemble drama "Crash," a role that generated some controversy when Yari sued the Producers Guild of America for denying him a full producer credit on the Oscar-winning film, which meant that he did not receive an Oscar when the film unexpectedly won the Best Picture award. (He did receive honors from other award organizations, including the U.K.'s BAFTA Awards.) Yari also took out full-page ads in the movie industry trade papers calling for an end to the arbitration panels that denied him a credit.
- Birthplace: Tehran, Iran
- David Kaufman (born July 23, 1961) is an American actor and voice actor, best known for his roles as the voices of Dexter Douglas on Freakazoid, Jimmy Olsen on Superman: The Animated Series, Danny Fenton/Danny Phantom on Danny Phantom, Maggie's brother Aldrin on The Buzz on Maggie, and Marty McFly, Michael J. Fox's character, on the Saturday morning animated series, Back to the Future.
- Birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Producer David Heyman was raised in the world of the arts. His love of theater led him to the world of movie production, first for major Hollywood studios and later striking out on his own. His love of books and literature led him to emerging British author J. K. Rowling, who had authored a children's fantasy novel that would achieve worldwide fame. In 1997, his production company obtained the movie rights to Rowling's Harry Potter books, leading to eight hugely successful feature films, earning billions at the global box office. In 2013, he reteamed with director Alfonso Cuarón on the science-fiction thriller "Gravity," which was released to commercial and critical acclaim, including seven Academy Awards. Heyman was born in London in 1961 to John Heyman, producer of such films as "The Go-Between" (1970) and "Jesus" (1979), and Norma Heyman, actress and Oscar-nominated producer of "Dangerous Liaisons" (1988) and "Mrs. Henderson Presents" (2005). He attended school at Westminster School, London, and earned an Art History degree from Harvard, then traveled the world. Entering Hollywood in 1984, Heyman paid his dues and rose up the industry ladder: creative director at Warner Brothers; vice president at United Artists. In 1992, he moved to independent production with the acclaimed urban drama "Juice" (1992). Five years later, he returned to London and founded a new production company, Heyman Films. As an independent producer, Heyman discovered an unknown writer named J. K. Rowling. He fell in love with her children's fantasy novel Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and quickly obtained the rights to adapt Rowling's books to the big screen. With a $2 million investment, Heyman's carefully crafted Harry Potter movies earned over $7 billion in box office revenue. Alfonso Cuarón, who directed the third Potter feature, "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" (2004), invited Heyman to produce his science-fiction film "Gravity" (2013). Mixing pioneering special effect technologies and powerful performances from stars Sandra Bullock, George Clooney and Ed Harris, "Gravity" became a blockbuster smash, earning over $700 million at the box office, and was also critically hailed as a masterwork. The film went on to win 6 BAFTA awards, a Golden Globe, and seven Academy Awards. Heyman next produced a TV adaptation of the gothic novel "The Thirteenth Tale" (BBC Two, 2013), followed by a CGI-based screen version of Michael Bond's beloved children's book series "Paddington" (2014) and an adaptation of World War I memoir "Testament of Youth" (2014) starring Alicia Vikander. Vikander also co-starred in period drama "The Light Between Oceans" (2016). The same year, Heyman reunited with Rowling for the prequel film "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" (2016).
- Birthplace: London, England, UK
- Albert Leung (born 7 December 1961), whose pen name is Lin Xi (林夕), is a prolific and award-winning lyricist based in Hong Kong.
- Birthplace: Hong Kong, China
- Amr Diab (Egyptian Arabic: عمروْ دِياب; born October 11, 1961) is an Egyptian vocalist and writer. He has established himself as an acclaimed recording artist and author in most Mediterranean countries. According to a research by Michael Frishkopf, he has created his style termed as "Mediterranean Music", a blend of Western and Egyptian rhythms. By 1992, he became the first Egyptian and Middle Eastern artist to start making high-tech music videos.
- Birthplace: Port Said, Egypt
- Chad Gaylord Smith (born October 25, 1961) is an American musician who is the current drummer of the band Red Hot Chili Peppers, which he joined in 1988. The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. Smith is also the drummer of the hard rock supergroup Chickenfoot, formed in 2008, and is currently the drummer of the all-instrumental outfit Chad Smith's Bombastic Meatbats, who formed in 2007. As one of the most highly sought-after drummers, Smith has recorded with Glenn Hughes, Johnny Cash, John Fogerty, the Dixie Chicks, Jennifer Nettles, Kid Rock, Jake Bugg, The Avett Brothers, and Joe Satriani. In 2010, joined by Dick Van Dyke and Leslie Bixler, he released Rhythm Train, a critically acclaimed children's album which featured Smith singing and playing various instruments. Widely regarded as one of rock music's best drummers, Spin magazine placed Smith at #10 on their list of the "100 Greatest Drummers of Alternative Music" in May 2013. Readers of UK-based Rhythm magazine ranked Smith and Red Hot Chili Pepper bassist Flea the fourth-greatest rhythm section of all time in their June 2013 issue. The drummer is also known for his charity work especially with young musicians. He has been a lobbyist in support of music education in U.S. public schools. Smith is also widely known for the strong resemblance between himself and comedian Will Ferrell, which has led to various comparisons over the years and eventually led to a joking public feud and drum battle for charity on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in May 2014, which led straight into the Red Hot Chili Peppers performing a cover of Blue Öyster Cult's "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" in the show as a reference to the Saturday Night Live "More Cowbell" skit (in which Ferrell played fictional cowbell player Gene Frenkle). Smith is also the host of the PBS concert series, Landmarks Live in Concert, which began in January 2017.
- Birthplace: USA, Minnesota, Saint Paul
- Brendan Eich (; born July 4, 1961) is an American technologist and creator of the JavaScript programming language. He co-founded the Mozilla project, the Mozilla Foundation and the Mozilla Corporation, and served as the Mozilla Corporation's chief technical officer and briefly, as its chief executive officer. He is the CEO of Brave Software.
- Birthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Daron Aric Hagen ( HAH-gən; born November 4, 1961, Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is an American composer, conductor, pianist, educator, librettist, and stage director of contemporary classical music and opera.
- Birthplace: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- American musician Danny Carey, best known for his work with the progressive metal band Tool, was born in Lawrence, Kansas. His interest in drumming started at an early age, when he joined a high school jazz band. That style of drumming would play a big role in his career in the future. He went on to play in several bands until joining Tool. His music and particular drumming signature was featured in several movies, such as "Tweeked" (2001), "I Pass for Human" (2004), "Free Birds" (2013) and "Man of Steel" (2013). For his body of work, he was ranked among the 100 greatest drummers of all time by Rolling Stone magazine.
- Birthplace: Paola, Kansas, USA
- Daryl Allan Katz (born May 31, 1961) is a Canadian billionaire businessman and philanthropist. Katz is founder and chairman of the Katz Group of Companies, one of Canada's largest privately owned enterprises, with pharmacy, sports & entertainment, and real estate development businesses. Katz Group owns the Edmonton Oilers, and is leading the development of Rogers Place arena and the Ice District. Katz is a former lawyer, and resides in Edmonton.
- Birthplace: Edmonton, Canada
- J. Dale Wainwright (born June 19, 1961, in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee) is a former associate justice of the Texas Supreme Court, now in private practice with Greenberg Traurig, LLP in Austin, Texas.Wainwright was initially elected to a six-year term, in November 2002, to replace Deborah Hankinson. In 2008, he was re-elected to a second term that would have ended in December 2014.On September 30, 2012, Wainwright officially resigned from the Texas Supreme Court after nearly a decade of service. He subsequently joined the Austin office of the law firm Bracewell and Giuliani. His successor on the court, effective December 3, 2012, was Jeffrey S. Boyd, a former chief of staff of then Texas Governor Rick Perry. Boyd was appointed by Perry to serve for the remainder of Wainwright's term.
- Birthplace: Mt. Juliet, Tennessee
- Bobbie Diane Eakes (born July 25, 1961) is an American actress and singer. She is known for her role as Macy Alexander on The Bold and the Beautiful (1989–2000, 2001, 2002–2003) and for her role as Krystal Carey on All My Children (2003–2011).
- Birthplace: Warner Robins, Georgia, USA
- Bob Peterson cut his teeth as an animator on Pixar's groundbreaking computer-animated blockbuster "Toy Story" (1995), going on to become a major contributor to the cutting-edge move house's award-laden fare; most notably as co-director on the much-lauded 2009 feature, "Up." An early aficionado of and creator of cartoons, both strip and animation, Peterson came to Hollywood (at least figuratively), via the most technical route, working in the late 1980s and early 1990s for companies developing software and computer-generated image (CGI) technology, such as the pioneering Wavefront Technologies. Landing with Pixar in 1994, he would become increasingly pivotal in the creation of the shop's feature film releases, serving as story supervisor on colleague Pete Docter's directorial debut, "Monsters, Inc." (2001) and as one of the screenwriters on 2003's "Finding Nemo," the screenplay of which netted him an Oscar nomination, even as the movie took the statue for Best Animated Film. His and Docter's collaborative project "Up," an adventure comedy featuring an improbable 78-year-old hero, would bring him back into contention for a raft of awards, becoming one of the best-reviewed pictures of the year. Along the way, he added side-work as a voiceover actor in a number of Pixar productions; most prominently in "Up" as Dug, a lovably dotty canine. For a Midwestern boy who once dreamed of working for Disney, Peterson fulfilled that and more, rising to integral player in the most eye-popping and critically lauded animated entertainment of its time.
- Birthplace: Wooster, Ohio, USA
- Christophe Rousset (French: [ʁusɛ]; born 12 April 1961) is an internationally renowned French harpsichordist and conductor, specializing in the performance of baroque music on period instruments. He is also a musicologist, with a passion for opera and European music of the 17th and 18th centuries, and is the founder of the French music ensemble Les Talens Lyriques.
- Birthplace: Avignon, France
- Rosemary Crossley AM (born 1945) is an Australian author and advocate for facilitated communication, a discredited technique in which a disabled person with difficulty communicating is encouraged to spell out messages with a keyboard or letter board, while their hand is held and helped to move by a facilitator.Crossley is a controversial figure in the field of autism and disabilities. She has been praised by some – she received membership in the Order of Australia in 1986, and in her native Australia she is director of the Anne McDonald Centre near Melbourne for people with little or no functional speech; in 1984, the film Annie's Coming Out was made about her work with her first student, Anne McDonald. However, facilitated communication is pseudoscience, and has been called ineffective and harmful by many psychologists, governments, and psychological organisations. In particular, it has failed controlled tests where the facilitator, supposed to aid the autistic person to communicate, is not aware what the answer should be. Experts conclude that the facilitator is directing the movement of the disabled person to the answer they expect to see. Organisations such as American Psychological Association, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the Association for Behavior Analysis have stated that facilitated communication is not a valid technique.
- Birthplace: Seymour, Australia
- David Lovering (born December 6, 1961) is an American musician and magician. He is best known as the drummer for the alternative rock band Pixies, which he joined in 1986. After the band's breakup in 1993, Lovering drummed with several other acts, including The Martinis, Cracker, Nitzer Ebb and Tanya Donelly. He also pursued a magic career as The Scientific Phenomenalist, performing scientific and physics-based experiments on stage. When the Pixies reunited in 2004, Lovering returned as the band's drummer. As a drummer Lovering was inspired by bands from a variety of genres, including Rush and Steely Dan.
- Birthplace: Burlington, Massachusetts, USA
- Andrew Crumey (born 1961) is a novelist and former literary editor of the Edinburgh newspaper Scotland on Sunday.
- Birthplace: Scotland
- Bruce Rankin Matthews (born August 8, 1961) is a former American football offensive lineman who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 19 seasons, from 1983 to 2001. He spent his entire career playing for the Houston / Tennessee Oilers / Titans franchise. Highly versatile, throughout his NFL career he played every position on the offensive line, starting in 99 games as a left guard, 87 as a center, 67 as a right guard, 22 as a right tackle, 17 as a left tackle, and was the snapper on field goals, PATs, and punts. Having never missed a game due to injury, his 293 NFL games started is the second most of all time. Matthews played college football for the University of Southern California, where he was recognized as a consensus All-American for the USC Trojans football team as a senior. He was selected in the first round of the 1983 NFL Draft by the Oilers. He was a 14-time Pro Bowl selection, tied for the most in NFL history, and a nine-time first-team All-Pro. Matthews was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007, and his number 74 jersey is retired by the Titans; he is the only member of the team to have his number retired having played for the Titans. After retiring as a player, Matthews served as an assistant coach for the Houston Texans and Titans. A member of the Matthews family of football players, he is the brother of linebacker Clay Matthews Jr.; father of center Kevin Matthews and tackle Jake Matthews; and uncle of linebacker Clay Matthews III and linebacker Casey Matthews.
- Birthplace: Raleigh, North Carolina
Andy Kirby
Dec. at 40 (1961-2002)Andy Kirby (November 30, 1961 in White House, Tennessee – July 18, 2002 in Nashville, Tennessee), was a former stockcar driver, most notably in NASCAR. Kirby did not initially begin with NASCAR, where his career would end. Instead, Kirby quickly earned his reputation as a motorcycle racer in the Southeastern United States. Kirby would eventually become best friends with NASCAR Busch Series driver Chad Chaffin, and Chaffin helped open some doors for Kirby.- Birthplace: White House, Tennessee
- Ali Abbasi (Urdu: علی عبّاسی) (August 1961 – 30 July 2004) was a Pakistani-born Scottish television presenter, born in Karachi. He moved from Pakistan to Glasgow, in 1963, with his parents as a child and joined BBC Scotland as a travel presenter in the 1980s. He went on to publish numerous books and became a champion for the Gaelic language, appearing in the Gaelic children's series Dè a-nis? and the comedy series Air ais air an Ran Dan ("Back on the Ran Dan") He joined BBC Scotland as a travel presenter in 1994 from Glasgow City Council, where he worked as an art gallery assistant. As well as presenting travel news at the BBC, Abbasi worked as an audio technician with outside broadcasts and radio cars.Abbasi was appointed Gaelic reading champion by the Scottish Executive in 2003. Abbasi died in Glasgow of lupus.
- Birthplace: Karachi, Pakistan
- Christopher Dennis Ashford-Smith (February 17, 1961 – August 22, 2018), better known by his ring name Chris Champion, was an American professional wrestler. He primarily worked for various National Wrestling Alliance member territories, including Florida Championship Wrestling and Jim Crockett Promotions. He is also known as Yoshi Kwan, initially from World Championship Wrestling (WCW).
- Birthplace: Tampa, Florida
- Brian Zembic, nicknamed the Wiz, born 1961 (age 57–58), is a magician and high-stakes gambler specializing in blackjack and backgammon. In the late 90s he became famed as a man who would do anything to win a bet. His most famous wager was in 1996 when he agreed to receive breast implants and keep them for one year in return for US$100,000 (US$160,000 in 2019). The year passed and he won the bet but he became accustomed to the breasts and did not have them removed.
- Birthplace: Winnipeg, Canada
- Ever since he began making films at the age of 10 with a Kodak camera his father gave him for his birthday, David Winning has dedicated his professional life to the filmmaking process. He made short films in high school with his friends, leading to a Canada Council Exploration grant for his first 16mm project (later blown up to 35mm for screenings in the U.K.), entitled "Sequence." This success led the then 22-year-old director to expand his vision into the feature-length drama "Storm." It too garnered praise after its 1987 release. Winning turned to television in the '90s, helming multiple episodes of shows like the action series"Street Justice," the spooky family mysteries "Are You Afraid of the Dark?," and "Goosebumps." He hit big in 1997 with the feature- length film version of the kids' action phenomenon "Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie" and continued exploring youth themes in two teen comedy programs for TV, "Breaker High" and "Sweet Valley High." Winning has turned his attention to the horror and science fiction genres in the 2000s, directing several episodes of "Earth: Final Conflict," "Andromeda," and "Dinotopia." Winning also helmed the horror films "Black Swarm" and "Swamp Devil." He has won numerous directorial awards from film festivals throughout the United States and Canada. In 2011, Winning directed two episodes of the horror comedy series "Todd and the Book of Pure Evil ."
- Birthplace: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Delbert Alexander "Del" Wilkes, Jr. (December 21, 1961 – June 30, 2021) was an American professional wrestler and college football player, better known by his ring names, The Trooper and The Patriot. Over the course of his nine-year career, Wilkes wrestled for the American Wrestling Association, the Global Wrestling Federation, All Japan Pro Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling, and the World Wrestling Federation.
- Birthplace: Columbia, South Carolina
- Des Hasler (born 16 February 1961) is an Australian professional rugby league coach who is the head coach of the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the NRL, and a former professional rugby league footballer. He initially played for the Penrith Panthers, and then spent most of his playing career with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, with whom he won premierships in 1987 and 1996. He spent a season with Hull FC in England, returning to Manly, before finishing his playing career with the Western Suburbs Magpies. He also played for NSW City, New South Wales in State of Origin and Australia at international level. Hasler has coached Manly between 2004 to 2011, winning a further two premierships in 2008 and 2011. He coached the Canterbury Bulldogs in the National Rugby League, before returning to Brookvale Oval.
- Birthplace: Gosford, Australia
- Anthony John Burger (June 5, 1961 – February 22, 2006) was an American pianist and singer, most closely associated with Southern gospel music.
- Birthplace: Tennessee, USA, Cleveland
- Amy M. Homes (pen name A. M. Homes; born December 18, 1961, Washington, D.C.) is an American writer best known for her controversial novels and unusual short stories, which feature extreme situations and characters. Notably, her novel The End of Alice (1996) depicts a convicted child molester and murderer. Homes, who was adopted at birth, met her biological parents for the first time when she was 31, and published a memoir, The Mistress's Daughter (2007) about her exploration of her expanded "family". Her most recent novel, May We Be Forgiven, was published by Viking Books on September 27, 2012. The first chapter of the novel was published in the 100th issue of Granta (in 2008; edited by William Boyd), and was selected by Salman Rushdie for The Best American Short Stories 2008. The novel won the Women's Prize for Fiction in 2013.
- Birthplace: Washington, D.C.
- Blyth Tait (born 10 May 1961 in Whangarei) is a New Zealand equestrian. Tait has competed at four Olympics and has won four medals, one of only four New Zealanders to do so.Tait's first success at international level was at the 1990 World Equestrian Games in Stockholm, when he won Gold in both the individual and team events riding Messiah. At the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona he won Bronze in the individual event after teammate Vicky Latta knocked down a rail in the showjumping, and Silver in the team event with Latta and Andrew Nicholson (Mark Todd was also in the team but was not awarded a medal as he did not finish the event). At the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta he won Gold in the individual and Bronze in the Team event. Tait repeated his World Championships double Gold effort at Rome in 1998 riding Ready Teddy. He was flag-bearer for the New Zealand team at the 2000 Summer Olympics but he was eliminated in both the individual and team events. Tait completed his competitive Olympic career with a fifth in the team event at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. He was the eventing manager for the 2008 Summer Olympics.
- Birthplace: Whangarei, New Zealand
- Byron Allen is an American producer, actor, writer, and director who is known for producing "47 Meters Down," "Chappaquiddick," and "The Hurricane Heist."
- Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Alison Ellwood is a producer, director, and writer who is known for producing "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room" and "Finding Fela." Ellwood was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in 2002 for "American High."
- Birthplace: Australia
- Neal Steven Wolin (born December 9, 1961) is the CEO of the corporate advisory firm Brunswick Group, an equity partner of Data Collective, a board partner of Social Capital, and a limited partner advisor of Nyca Partners. He is the longest-serving Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and also served as Acting Secretary of the Treasury in early 2013. In 2009, following eight years with The Hartford Financial Services Group, Wolin was appointed Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Treasury by President Barack Obama, where he led the U.S. government's financial reform plan during the Great Recession, including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. He resigned as Deputy Secretary in August 2013. Wolin also served during the Clinton administration for eight years, including as general counsel and Deputy General Counsel of the Treasury, and as a staff member of the United States National Security Council.
- Birthplace: Evanston, Illinois, USA
- Arundhati Roy is an actress and writer who appeared in "Global Haywire: A Short History of Planet Malfunction," and "Massay Sahib."
- Birthplace: Shilong, India
Andrew McGibbon
Age: 64Andrew McGibbon (a.k.a. Andrew Paresi; born 1961 in Chiswick), is an English comedian, actor, writer, musician and composer. He has also produced and directed extensively, chiefly for radio.- Birthplace: Chiswick, London, England
- Brad Wright is a Canadian television producer, screenwriter and actor. He is best known as the co-creator of the television series Stargate SG-1 (with Jonathan Glassner), Stargate Atlantis (with Robert C. Cooper) and Stargate Universe (also with Cooper) and as the creator of Travelers. He was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Before the inception of the Stargate franchise, he served as the co-executive producer and a writer of The Outer Limits. He has also written scripts for several other television series including Neon Rider, Adventures of the Black Stallion, The Odyssey, Highlander: The Series and Poltergeist: The Legacy.
- Birthplace: Toronto, Canada
- Caitlin Flanagan (born 1961) is an American writer and social critic. A contributor to The Atlantic since February 2001, she was a staff writer for The New Yorker in 2004 and 2005, contributing five articles, including To Hell with All That.She is the author of To Hell with All That: Loving and Loathing Our Inner Housewife (2006) and Girl Land (2012).
- Birthplace: Berkeley, California
- Buddy Landel (born William Fritz Ensor; August 14, 1961 – June 22, 2015), better known as "Nature Boy" Buddy Landel, was an American professional wrestler born in Knoxville, Tennessee.
- Birthplace: Tennessee, USA, Knoxville
- Dave King (born 11 December 1961 from Limerick) is an Irish singer, musician and songwriter. He is currently a member of the band Flogging Molly, of which he is a founding member. He first gained notability as the original lead singer of hard rock band Fastway in the 1980s.
- Birthplace: Republic of Ireland, Dublin
- Cate Tiernan (born July 24, 1961) is the pen name of Gabrielle Charbonnet, an American author. Writing as Cate Tiernan, she is best known for her Sweep series, which follows the Wiccan adventures of a cast of high school students. The stories are sold as the Wicca series in the UK, Belgium, The Netherlands and Australia, and as White Magic (Magie Blanche) in Italy and France. Under her own name, she is chiefly known for children's books in the Princess, American Gold Gymnasts, and Disney Girls series. In 2008 and 2009, Charbonnet collaborated with author James Patterson on two "young adult" novels, Sundays at Tiffany's and Witch & Wizard.
- Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana
