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People: Famous People born in 1947

People in chronological context: 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1947th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 947th year of the 2nd millennium, the 47th year of the 20th century, and the 8th year of the 1940s decade. It was the first year of the Cold War, which would last until 1991, ending with the dissolution of the Soviet Union. ()

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3,421 people found (page 1/115):

Sam Neill(76)

Actor | Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland (GB)

Sir Nigel John Dermot "Sam" Neill (born 14 September 1947) is a New Zealand actor. Neill's career has included leading roles in both dramas and blockbusters. Considered an "international leading man", he has been regarded as one of the most versatile actors of his generation. Born in Omagh in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, Neill moved to Christchurch with his family in 1954. He first achieved recognition with his appearance in the 1977 film Sleeping Dogs, which he followed with leading roles in My Brilliant Career (1979), Omen III: The Final Conflict, Possession (both 1981), Evil Angels (also known as A Cry in the Dark) (1988), Dead Calm (1989), The Hunt For Red October (1990), The Piano (1993) and In the Mouth of Madness (1994). He came to international prominence as Dr. Alan Grant in Jurassic Park (1993), a role that he reprises in Jurassic Park III (2001) and Jurassic World Dominion (2022). Outside of film, Neill has appeared in numerous television series in guest and recurring roles, including Reilly, Ace of Spies (1983), The Simpsons (1994), The Tudors (2007), Crusoe (2008–2010), Happy Town (2010), Alcatraz (2012), and Rick and Morty (2019), starring as Merlin in Merlin (1998) Merlin's Apprentice (2006) and Major Chester Campbell in the first two seasons of Peaky Blinders (2013–2014). He has presented and narrated several documentaries. Neill is the recipient of the AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, the Longford Lyell Award, the New Zealand Film Award and the Logie Award for Most Outstanding Actor. He also has three Golden Globe and two Primetime Emmy Award nominations. He won the Silver Logie for Most Popular Actor at the 2023 Logies.

Known for: Jurassic Park, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Memoirs of an Invisible Man, The Piano
* 09/14/1947

Peter Weller(76)

Actor | Stevens Point, Wisconsin (US)

Peter Frederick Weller (born June 24, 1947) is an American film and stage actor, director and lecturer.He is best known for his roles as the title character in the first two RoboCop films and Buckaroo Banzai in the cult classic The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension. He received an Academy Award nomination for his direction for the 1993 short Partners, in which he also acted. He also hosted the show Engineering an Empire on the History channel. He played Stan Liddy in the 5th Season of the Showtime original series, Dexter.

Known for: RoboCop, Naked Lunch, RoboCop 2, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
* 06/24/1947

James Woods(77)

Actor | Vernal, Utah (US)

James Howard Woods (born April 18, 1947) is an American actor. He is known for fast-talking intense roles on stage and screen. He received numerous accolades including three Emmy Awards, and a Golden Globe Award, as well as nominations for two Academy Awards and three Screen Actors Guild Awards. He started his career in minor roles on and off-Broadway before making his Broadway debut in The Penny Wars (1969), followed by Borstal Boy (1970), The Trial of the Catonsville Nine (1971), and Moonchildren (1972). Woods' early film roles include in The Visitors (1972), The Way We Were (1973) and Night Moves (1975). He starred in the NBC miniseries Holocaust (1978) opposite Meryl Streep. He rose to prominence portraying Gregory Powell in The Onion Field (1979). He earned two Academy Awards nominations: one for Best Actor for his role as journalist Richard Boyle in Salvador (1986) and for Best Supporting Actor for playing white supremacist Byron De La Beckwith in Ghosts of Mississippi (1996). Notable film roles include in Videodrome (1983), Once Upon a Time in America (1984), The Hard Way (1991), Chaplin (1992), Nixon (1995), Casino (1995), Contact (1997), Vampires (1998), Another Day in Paradise (1998), Any Given Sunday (1999), and The Virgin Suicides (1999). He served as an executive producer on the Christopher Nolan biographical drama film Oppenheimer (2023). For his television roles, he is the recipient of two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for portraying as D.J. in the CBS movie Promise (1987) and Bill W. in the ABC film My Name Is Bill W. (1989). He has also played Roy Cohn in Citizen Cohn (1992) and Dick Fuld in Too Big to Fail (2011). He starred in the CBS legal series Shark (2006-2008), and had a recurring role in the Showtime crime series Ray Donovan (2013). He has voiced roles for Hercules (1997), Recess: School's Out (2001), Stuart Little 2 (2002), and Surf's Up (2007), as well as voicing himself several times on both The Simpsons and Family Guy (2005–present).

Known for: Vampires, Hercules, The Virgin Suicides, Videodrome
* 04/18/1947

Arnold Schwarzenegger(76)

Actor | Thal, Styria (AT)

Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (born July 30, 1947) is an Austrian-American actor, film producer, businessman, former bodybuilder and politician whoservedas the38th governor of California(2003-2011). As of 2022, he is the most recent Republicangovernor of California.Timemagazine named Schwarzenegger one of the100 most influential people in the worldin 2004 and 2007. He also served as Chairman of thePresident's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (1990-1993).He began weight training at 15. He was awarded the title of Mr. Universe at age 20 and went on to win the Mr. Olympia contest a total of seven times. He appeared in the bodybuilding documentaryPumping Iron(1977). The Arnold Sports Festival, considered the second-most important bodybuilding event after Mr. Olympia, is named after him.He has remained a prominent presence in the sport of bodybuilding and has written several books and numerous articles on the sport.He wanted to move from bodybuilding into acting, finally achieving it when he played the title role inHercules in New York(1970). Credited under the stage name "Arnold Strong", his accent in the film was so thick that his lines weredubbedafter production. His second film role was as a mob hitman inThe Long Goodbye(1973), followed by a more significant part in the filmStay Hungry(1976), for which he won theGolden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actor.In 1977, he appeared in an episode of theABCsitcomThe San Pedro Beach Bums and the ABCpolice proceduralThe Streets of San Francisco. He auditioned for the title role ofThe Incredible Hulk, but did not win the role because of his height. He appearedin the 1979 comedy The Villain. In 1980, he starred in a biographical film of the 1950s actressJayne Mansfieldas her husband,Mickey Hargitay.He gained worldwide fame as a Hollywood action star with his breakthrough starring role in theepicConan the Barbarian(1982) andits sequelin 1984.After playing thetitle rolein the sci-fi action filmThe Terminator(1984), he starred in its' sequelsTerminator 2: Judgment Day(1991), Terminator 3: Rise of the Machine's (2003), Terminator Genisys(2015), and Terminator: Dark Fate(2019). His other action films include Commando (1985), The Running Man (1987), Predator (1987), Red Heat(1988),Total Recall (1990), andTrue Lies(1994). His comedy films include Twins (1988), Kindergarten Cop(1990),Junior(1994), andJingle All the Way(1996).After leaving the governor's office, he resumed his acting career. He starred inThe Expendables 2(2012), The Last Stand(2013), his first leading role in 10 years, Escape Plan(2013), Sabotage (2014) and returned as Trench Mauser inThe Expendables 3 (2014). He then starred in the Terminator sequels Terminator Genisys (2015) and Terminator: Dark Fate (2019). He was slated to reprise his role asConan inThe Legend of Conan,later renamedConan the Conqueror; however, in April 2017, producer Chris Morgan stated that Universal had dropped the project, although there was a possibility of a TV show.He was nicknamed the "Austrian Oak" and the "Styrian Oak" in his bodybuilding days, "Arnie" and "Schwarz" during his acting career and the "Governator" (a portmanteau of "Governor" and "Terminator"). He is the founder of the film production company Oak Productions.

Known for: Terminator 2: Judgment Day, The 6th Day, The Terminator, Last Action Hero
* 07/30/1947

Jonathan Banks(77)

Actor | Washington, D.C. (US)

Jonathan Banks (born January 31, 1947) is an American character actor in film and television.Banks dropped out of Indiana University to join a touring company as a stage manager. He went to Australia with the company and stayed on working in theatre there. In 1974, he moved to Los Angeles and performed on stage before picking up bit parts on television. Probably his best-known movie roles are in two films starring Eddie Murphy: 48 Hrs. and Beverly Hills Cop. In 48 Hrs. he plays a character who is a friend of the lead and is killed by the villain, beginning the lead characters' story. In Beverly Hills Cop, he plays a villain who kills the lead characters' friend and begins his story. Other movie roles include appearances in Armed and Dangerous, Freejack, Flipper, Airplane!, Gremlins, Murder Me, Murder You, and Under Siege 2: Dark Territory.His biggest break on television, came with the series Wiseguy, in which he played Frank McPike for four years, a role which led to an Emmy award nomination. Although his character was primarily the hero's mentor, stories occasionally featured McPike as hero. In 1981 he appeared as Dutch Schultz on the NBC series the Gangster Chronicles. He also starred on the short-lived science fiction TV series Otherworld, as Kommander Neveen Kroll and in the sitcom Fired Up.Banks has also made guest appearances on TV shows including Alias, CSI, Day Break, Highlander: The Series, Matlock, SeaQuest DSV, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Women of the House and Walker Texas Ranger. Most recently, Banks appeared in the final Season Two episodes of Dexter, and in episodes of ER, Cold Case, and Shark, Modern Family. In the second season finale of Breaking Bad, Banks appeared as a mysterious character named Mike. Banks was made a series regular for the third season.

Known for: Mudbound, Gremlins, El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, Breaking Bad
* 01/31/1947

Jonathan Pryce(76)

Actor | Carmel, Flintshire, Wales (GB)

Jonathan Pryce, CBE (born 1 June 1947) is a Welsh stage and film actor and singer.After studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and meeting his long time partner, English actress Kate Fahy, in 1974, he began his career as a stage actor in the 1970s. His work in theatre, including an award-winning performance in the title role of the Royal Court Theatre's "Hamlet", led to several supporting roles in film and television. He made his breakthrough screen performance in Terry Gilliam's 1985 cult film "Brazil". Critically lauded for his versatility, Pryce has participated in big-budget films such as "Evita", "Tomorrow Never Dies", "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "The New World", as well as independent projects such as "Glengarry Glen Ross" and "Carrington". His career in theatre has also been prolific, and he has won two Tony Awards—the first in 1977 for his Broadway debut in "Comedians", the second for his 1991 role as "The Engineer" in the musical "Miss Saigon".

Known for: The Two Popes, The Wife, Tomorrow Never Dies, Glengarry Glen Ross
* 06/01/1947

Meat Loaf(† 74)

Actor | Dallas, Texas (US)

Michael Lee Aday (born Marvin Lee Aday; September 27, 1947 – January 20, 2022), known professionally as Meat Loaf, was an American singer and actor known for his powerful, wide-ranging voice and theatrical live shows. He is one of the best selling music artists in history. His Bat Out of Hell trilogy—Bat Out of Hell (1977), Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell (1993), and Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose (2006)—has sold more than 100 million records worldwide. The first album stayed on the charts for over nine years, as of 2016 still sold an estimated 200,000 copies annually, and is on the list of bestselling albums. After the commercial success of Bat Out of Hell and Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell, and earning a Grammy Award for Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance for the song "I'd Do Anything for Love", Meat Loaf nevertheless experienced some difficulty establishing a steady career within the United States. The key to this success was his popularity in Europe, especially in the United Kingdom and Ireland. He received the 1994 Brit Award in the United Kingdom for bestselling album and single. He appeared in the 1997 film Spice World and he ranked 23rd for the number of weeks spent on the UK charts in 2006. He ranks 96th on VH1's "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock". Meat Loaf appeared in over 50 films and television shows, sometimes as himself or as characters resembling his stage persona. His film roles included Eddie in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) and Robert Paulson in Fight Club (1999). His early stage work included dual roles in the original Broadway cast of The Rocky Horror Show. He also appeared in the musical Hair, both on and Off-Broadway.

Known for: The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Fight Club, The 51st State, Spice World
* 09/27/1947

Ray Wise(76)

Actor | Akron, Ohio (US)

Raymond Herbert Wise (born August 29, 1947) is an American actor best known for his role as Leland Palmer in Twin Peaks (1990–1991, 2017) and its prequel film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992). He has appeared in films such as Swamp Thing (1982), The Journey of Natty Gann (1985), RoboCop (1987), Bob Roberts (1992), Jeepers Creepers 2 (2003), Good Night, and Good Luck (2005), X-Men: First Class (2011) and God's Not Dead 2 (2016). Wise's other television rules include Vice President Hal Gardner in 24 (2006), The Devil in Reaper (2007–2009), and Marvin in Fresh Off the Boat (2015–2020). He is also known for acting in projects produced by the comedy duo Tim & Eric, most notably his guest-starring role as Grill Vogel in Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! (2008).

Known for: Batman: The Killing Joke, Dead End, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me, RoboCop, Twin Peaks
* 08/20/1947

Lois Chiles(77)

Actress | Houston, Texas (US)

Lois Cleveland Chiles (born April 15, 1947) is an American actress and former fashion model known for her role as Holly Goodhead in the James Bond film Moonraker (1979), and as a hit-and-run driver in Creepshow 2 (1987). Other screen credits include The Way We Were (1973), The Great Gatsby (1974), Death on the Nile (1978), Broadcast News (1987), and the television role of Holly Harwood on Dallas (1982–1983).

Known for: Moonraker, Broadcast News, The Great Gatsby, Death on the Nile
* 04/15/1947

Tim Matheson(76)

Actor | Glendale, California (US)

Tim Matheson (born Timothy Lewis Matthieson; December 31, 1947) is an American actor. Some of his best-known acting roles include the title character of the 1960s animated Jonny Quest TV series, Eric "Otter" Stratton in the 1978 comedy film National Lampoon's Animal House, and the recurring role of Vice President John Hoynes in the 2000s NBC drama The West Wing, which earned him two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series.

Known for: Animal House, The West Wing, Hart of Dixie, Virgin River
* 12/31/1947

Glenn Close(77)

Actress | Greenwich, Connecticut (US)

Glenda Veronica "Glenn" Close (born March 19, 1947) is an American actress. In a career spanning over six decades, she has garnered numerous accolades, including three Tony Awards, three Emmy Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards. She has been nominated eight times for an Academy Award, sharing the record for most nominations in acting categories without a win with Peter O'Toole. In 2016, she was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame, and in 2019, Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Close began her professional career on the stage in 1974 with Love for Love. She received her first Tony Award nomination for her role in Barnum and later went on to win three competitive Tony Awards for her roles in the plays The Real Thing (1983) and Death and the Maiden (1992), and the musical Sunset Boulevard (1995). She returned to the Broadway stage in a 2014 revival of A Delicate Balance. She reprised her role as Norma Desmond in a West End and Broadway revival in 2016 and 2017 respectively. She has also hosted the Tony Awards twice, in 1992 and 1995. Close received eight Academy Award nominations for her roles in The World According to Garp (1982), The Big Chill (1983), The Natural (1984), Fatal Attraction (1987), Dangerous Liaisons (1988), Albert Nobbs (2011), The Wife (2017), and Hillbilly Elegy (2020). She has also starred in Jagged Edge (1985), Reversal of Fortune (1990), Hamlet (1990), The House of the Spirits (1993), The Paper (1994), Mars Attacks! (1996), and Air Force One (1997). She also portrayed Cruella de Vil in 101 Dalmatians (1996) and its sequel 102 Dalmatians (2000). For her work on television she won her first Primetime Emmy Award for her performance in the television film Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story (1995). For her portrayal of Eleanor of Aquitaine in the Showtime television film The Lion in Winter (2003) she won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film. From 2007 to 2012, Close starred as Patty Hewes in the drama series Damages, for which she received two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Close has been married three times, and has a daughter from her relationship with producer John Starke. She is the president of Trillium Productions and has co-founded the website FetchDog. She has made political donations in support of Democratic politicians and is vocal on issues such as women's rights, same-sex marriage, and mental health.

Known for: Fatal Attraction, The Wife, Guardians of the Galaxy, Dangerous Liaisons
* 03/19/1947

Richard Dreyfuss(76)

Actor | Brooklyn, New York (US)

Richard Stephen Dreyfuss ( DRY-fəs; né Dreyfus; born October 29, 1947) is an American actor. He is known for starring in popular films during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, including American Graffiti (1973), Jaws (1975), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), The Goodbye Girl (1977), The Competition (1980), Stand by Me (1986), Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1986), Stakeout (1987), Nuts (1987), Always (1989), What About Bob? (1991), The American President (1995), and Mr. Holland's Opus (1995). Dreyfuss won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1977 for The Goodbye Girl (at the time, the youngest-ever actor—age 30–to win), and was nominated in the same category for Mr. Holland's Opus in 1995. He is the recipient of a Golden Globe and a BAFTA, and was nominated for two Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2002; for his starring role in the CBS drama series The Education of Max Bickford, and his portrayal of Alexander Haig in the Showtime film The Day Reagan Was Shot, respectively.

Known for: The Goodbye Girl, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Jaws, Mr. Holland's Opus
* 10/29/1947
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Farrah Fawcett(† 62)

Actress | Corpus Christi, Texas (US)

Farrah Leni Fawcett (born Ferrah Leni Fawcett; February 2, 1947 – June 25, 2009) was an American actress. A four-time Primetime Emmy Award nominee and six-time Golden Globe Award nominee, Fawcett rose to international fame when she played a starring role in the first season of the television series Charlie's Angels. Fawcett began her career in the 1960s appearing in commercials and guest roles on television. During the 1970s, she appeared in numerous television series, including recurring roles on Harry O (1974–1976), and The Six Million Dollar Man (1974–1978) with her then-husband, film and television star Lee Majors. Her iconic red swimsuit poster sold six million copies in its first year in print. Fawcett's breakthrough role was the role of private investigator Jill Munroe in Charlie's Angels, which co-starred Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith. The show propelled all three actresses to stardom. After appearing in the show's first season in 1976, Fawcett decided to leave Charlie's Angels. She later returned as a guest star in six episodes during the show's third and fourth seasons (1978–1980). For her work in Charlie's Angels, Fawcett received her first Golden Globe nomination. In 1983, Fawcett received positive reviews for her performance in the Off-Broadway play Extremities. She was subsequently cast in the 1986 film version and received a Golden Globe nomination. She received Emmy Award nominations for her role as a battered wife in The Burning Bed (1984) and for her portrayal of real-life murderer Diane Downs in Small Sacrifices (1989). Her 1980s work in TV movies earned her four additional Golden Globe nominations. Although Fawcett weathered some negative press for a rambling appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman in 1997, she garnered strong reviews that year for her role in the film The Apostle with Robert Duvall. In the 21st century, she continued acting on television, holding recurring roles on the sitcom Spin City (2001) and the drama The Guardian (2002–2003). For the latter, she received her third Emmy nomination. Fawcett's film credits include Love Is a Funny Thing (1969), Myra Breckinridge (1970), Logan's Run (1976), Sunburn (1979), Saturn 3 (1980), The Cannonball Run (1981), Extremities (1986), The Apostle (1997), and Dr. T & the Women (2000). Fawcett was diagnosed with anal cancer in 2006 and died three years later at age 62. The 2009 NBC documentary Farrah's Story chronicled her battle with the disease. She posthumously earned her fourth Emmy nomination for her work as a producer on Farrah's Story.

Known for: Saturn 3, Logan's Run, The Cannonball Run, Extremities, Charlie's Angels
* 02/02/1947

Rob Reiner(77)

Actor | The Bronx, New York City, New York (US)

Robert Reiner (born March 6, 1947) is an American actor and filmmaker. As an actor, Reiner first came to national prominence with the role of Mike "Meathead" Stivic on the CBS sitcom All in the Family (1971–1979), a performance that earned him two Primetime Emmy Awards. Reiner made his directorial film debut with heavy metal mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap (1984). He then earned acclaim directing the romantic comedy The Sure Thing (1985), coming of age drama Stand by Me (1986), fantasy adventure The Princess Bride (1987), romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally... (1989), psychological horror-thriller Misery (1990), military courtroom drama A Few Good Men (1992) which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, and romantic comedy-drama The American President (1995). He has earned nominations for four Golden Globe Awards for Best Director, and for three Directors Guild of America Awards. Reiner's acting credits include Throw Momma from the Train (1987), Sleepless in Seattle (1993), Bullets Over Broadway (1994), The First Wives Club (1996), Primary Colors (1998), EDtv (1999), and The Wolf of Wall Street (2013).

Known for: This Is Spinal Tap, The Wolf of Wall Street, The Story of Us, All in the Family
* 03/06/1947

Anne Archer(76)

Actress | Los Angeles, California (US)

Anne Archer is an American actress. She starred as Beth in the psychological thriller film Fatal Attraction (1987), which earned her nominations for the Academy Award, BAFTA Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress.Archer was named Miss Golden Globe in 1971, and in the year following, appeared in her feature film debut The Honkers.Archer's other film appearances include Paradise Alley (1978), Raise the Titanic (1980), Patriot Games (1992), Short Cuts (1993), Clear and Present Danger (1994), and Lullaby (2014). On stage, she starred as Mrs Robinson in the West End production of The Graduate in 2001, and in the title role of The Trial of Jane Fonda at the 2014 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Known for: Fatal Attraction, Short Cuts, Patriot Games, The Art of War
* 08/24/1947

Richard Jenkins(76)

Actor | DeKalb, Illinois (US)

Richard Dale Jenkins (born May 4, 1947) is an American actor. He is well known for his portrayal of deceased patriarch Nathaniel Fisher on the HBO funeral drama series Six Feet Under (2001–2005). He began his career in theater at the Trinity Repertory Company and made his film debut in 1974. He has worked steadily in film and television since the 1980s, mostly in supporting roles. His eclectic body of work includes such films as The Witches of Eastwick (1987), Little Nikita (1988), Flirting with Disaster (1996), Snow Falling on Cedars (1999), The Mudge Boy (2003), Burn After Reading (2008), Step Brothers (2008), Let Me In (2010), Jack Reacher (2012), The Cabin in the Woods (2012), Bone Tomahawk (2015), The Last Shift (2020), The Humans (2021), and Nightmare Alley (2021). Jenkins received nominations for the Academy Award, Spirit Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor for the drama film The Visitor (2007). He won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie for the limited drama series Olive Kitteridge (2014). For his performance in the fantasy drama film The Shape of Water (2017), he was nominated for the Academy Award, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actor. The Netflix miniseries Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (2022) garnered him both Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for Best Supporting Actor, plus an additional Emmy nod for producing the series.

Known for: The Shape of Water, The Visitor, Step Brothers, Burn After Reading
* 05/04/1947

Bryan Brown(76)

Actor | Sydney, New South Wales (AU)

Bryan Neathway Brown (born 23 June 1947) is an Australian actor.Early lifeBrown was born in Sydney, the son of John (Jack) Brown and Molly Brown, a house cleaner and pianist in the early days of the Langshaw School of Ballet. He grew up in the south-western Sydney suburb of Bankstown, and began working at AMP as an actuarial student. He started to act in amateur theatre performances, where he discovered a passion for acting.CareerBrown went to England in 1964, eventually winning minor roles at the Old Vic. He returned to Australia where he became a member of the Genesian Theatre, Sydney, appearing in Colleen Clifford's production of A Man for All Seasons, before joining the Queensland Theatre Company. He made his cinema debut in 1977 with a small role in The Love Letters from Teralba Road, and appeared in several more Australian films over the next two years.In 1980 Brown became known to international audiences for his performance in Breaker Morant. While he continued appearing in Australian productions he also appeared in American TV mini-series, winning popularity in the United States in A Town Like Alice (1981).He is best known to American television audiences for his Golden Globe and Emmy nominated role as Luke O'Neil in The Thorn Birds (1983), starring Richard Chamberlain and Rachel Ward, who he later married.He starred in several international productions, including Tai-Pan, with Joan Chen, Gorillas in the Mist, with Sigourney Weaver, and Cocktail, with Tom Cruise.He is one of the few Australian actors who regularly plays Australians, thereby retaining his accent. Two exceptions are Tai-Pan and his role in the TV series Against the Wind, which called for an Irish accent.

Known for: Cocktail, Breaker Morant, Two Hands, F/X2
* 06/23/1947

Michael McKean(76)

Actor | New York City, New York (US)

Michael McKean (born October 17, 1947) is an American actor, comedian, writer, composer and musician, perhaps best known for Laverne & Shirley, Spinal Tap and Better Call Saul.

Known for: This Is Spinal Tap, A Mighty Wind, Clue, Better Call Saul
* 10/17/1947

Stephen King(76)

Crew | Portland, Maine (US)

Stephen King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction, and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies, which have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies, and comic books. As of 2011, King has written and published 49 novels, including seven under the pen name Richard Bachman, five non-fiction books, and nine collections of short stories. Many of his stories are set in his home state of Maine. King has received Bram Stoker Awards, World Fantasy Awards, British Fantasy Society Awards, his novella The Way Station was a Nebula Award novelette nominee, and in 2003, the National Book Foundation awarded him the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.

Known for: Maximum Overdrive, Creepshow, The Shawshank Redemption, Kingdom Hospital
* 09/21/1947

Richard Lewis(† 76)

Actor | Brooklyn, New York (US)

Richard Philip Lewis (June 29, 1947 – February 27, 2024) was an American stand-up comedian, actor, and writer. Lewis came to prominence in the 1980s and became known for his dark, neurotic, and self-deprecating humor. As an actor, he was known for starring in the ABC sitcom Anything but Love from 1989 to 1992, and for playing the role of Prince John in the 1993 film Robin Hood: Men in Tights. Lewis also had a recurring role as a semi-fictionalized version of himself in the HBO comedy series Curb Your Enthusiasm from 2000 to 2024.

Known for: Robin Hood: Men in Tights, Leaving Las Vegas, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Daddy Dearest
* 06/29/1947

Ted Danson(76)

Actor | San Diego, California (US)

Edward Bridge Danson III (born December 29, 1947) is an American actor. He achieved stardom playing the lead character Sam Malone on the NBC sitcom Cheers, for which he received two Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards. He was nominated for more Emmy Awards for roles in the legal drama Damages (2007–2010) and the NBC dramedy The Good Place (2016–2020). He was awarded a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame in 1999. Danson made his film debut in 1978 in the crime drama The Onion Field. His breakout film role was as Jack Holden in the films Three Men and a Baby (1987) and Three Men and a Little Lady (1990). His other film roles include Body Heat (1981), Dad (1989) and Saving Private Ryan (1998). Danson's other leading roles on television include the CBS sitcom Becker, CBS drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2011–2015), and CSI: Cyber (2015–2016). In 2015, he starred in the second season of FX's anthology series Fargo. He has played roles in the HBO comedies Bored to Death (2009–2011) and Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000–2024), and the NBC sitcom Mr. Mayor (2021–2022). Danson is also known for his longtime activism in ocean conservation. In March 2011, he published his first book, Oceana: Our Endangered Oceans and What We Can Do to Save Them which was written with journalist Michael D'Orso. He has been married to actress Mary Steenburgen since 1995.

Known for: Body Heat, 3 Men and a Little Lady, Cheers, The Good Place
* 12/29/1947

Robert Englund(76)

Actor | Glendale, California (US)

Robert Barton Englund (born June 6, 1947) is an American actor and director, best known for playing the supernatural serial killer Freddy Krueger in the Nightmare on Elm Street film series. Classically trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Englund began his career as a stage actor in regional theatre, and made his film debut in Buster and Billie in 1974. After supporting roles in films in the 1970s such as Stay Hungry, A Star Is Born, and Big Wednesday, Englund had his breakthrough as the resistance fighter Willie in the miniseries V in 1983. Following his performance in the original A Nightmare on Elm Street in 1984, he became closely associated with the horror film genre, and is widely-regarded as one of its iconic actors.

Known for: A Nightmare on Elm Street, Freddy vs. Jason, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master, A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors
* 06/06/1947

Peter Riegert(77)

Actor | New York City, New York (US)

Peter Riegert is an American stage and screen actor, writer, and director, best known for his portrayal of crooked New Jersey State Assemblyman Ronald Zellman on the HBO television series "The Sopranos".

Known for: The Mask, Animal House, Local Hero, Oscar
* 04/11/1947

William Atherton(76)

Actor | Orange, Connecticut (US)

William Scott Atherton (born July 30, 1947) is an American actor. He had starring roles in The Sugarland Express (1974), The Day of the Locust (1975), The Hindenburg (1975) and Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977), but is perhaps most recognized for supporting roles in Ghostbusters (1984), Die Hard (1988), Die Hard 2 (1990) and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024).

Known for: Die Hard, Ghostbusters, Real Genius, The Day of the Locust
* 07/30/1947

Meredith Baxter(76)

Actress | South Pasadena, California (US)

Meredith Ann Baxter (born June 21, 1947) is an American actress and producer. She is known for her roles on the CBS sitcom Bridget Loves Bernie (1972–1973), ABC drama series Family (1976–1980) and the NBC sitcom Family Ties (1982–1989). A five-time Emmy Award nominee, one of her nominations was for playing the title role in the 1992 TV film A Woman Scorned: The Betty Broderick Story.

Known for: All the President's Men, A Woman Scorned: The Betty Broderick Story, Family Ties, Family
* 06/21/1947

Candy Clark(76)

Actress | Norman, Oklahoma (US)

Candace June Clark (born June 20, 1947) is an American actress and model. She is best known for her role as Debbie Dunham in the 1973 film American Graffiti, for which she received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, and her role as Mary Lou in the 1976 film The Man Who Fell to Earth.

Known for: American Graffiti, The Man Who Fell to Earth, Blue Thunder, Zodiac
* 06/20/1947

Glynn Turman(77)

Actor | New York City, New York (US)

Glynn Russell Turman (born January 31, 1947) is an American actor, director, writer, and producer. First coming to attention as a child actor in the original 1959 Broadway production of A Raisin in the Sun, Turman is known for his roles as Lew Miles on the prime-time soap opera Peyton Place (1968–1969), high school student Leroy "Preach" Jackson in the 1975 coming-of-age film Cooley High, math professor and retired Army colonel Bradford Taylor on the NBC sitcom A Different World (1988–1993), and Baltimore mayor Clarence Royce on the HBO drama series The Wire. He received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his role on the HBO drama series In Treatment. Turman also portrayed Jeremiah Kaan on the Showtime series House of Lies, Doctor Senator in the fourth season of the FX black comedy crime drama series Fargo, and starred in the 2020 Netflix film Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.

Known for: Super 8, John Dies at the End, Gremlins, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
* 01/31/1947

John Ratzenberger(77)

Actor | Bridgeport, Connecticut (US)

John Dezso Ratzenberger is an American actor, voice actor, director, producer, writer and entrepreneur. He is one of the most successful actors of all time in terms of box-office receipts. Ratzenberger is best known for portraying Cliff Clavin on the popular comedy series Cheers, for which he earned two Primetime Emmy nominations. He is the only voice actor to appear in every Pixar Animation Studios feature film, including Hamm in the Toy Story franchise, The Underminer in The Incredibles franchise, and Mack in the Cars franchise.Ratzenberger began his entertainment career while living in London in the 1970s. He had minor film and television roles throughout the late 70s and early 1980s before creating, and then landing, the role of the know-it-all mailman Cliff Clavin on Cheers, a role he portrayed throughout the show's eleven seasons. His first Pixar role was the voice of Hamm in Toy Story, and he has voiced Pixar characters in films and video games ever since. From 2004 to 2008 he hosted the TV documentary series Made in America. Outside of acting, he has promoted American entrepreneurship and manufacturing, and campaigned for several Republican candidates.

Known for: Toy Story, Cars, WALL·E, Cheers
* 04/06/1947

Larry David(76)

Actor | Brooklyn, New York City, New York (US)

Producer, writer, actor. Born July 2, 1947 in Brooklyn, New York. David attended the University of Maryland and started doing stand-up comedy in New York night clubs in 1974. In 1979, he was hired to write and perform for the comedy variety show Fridays, which was modelled after Saturday Night Live. He stayed with the show until 1982 when he was hired as a writer for Saturday Night Live, where he worked for a year.In 1989, David received a call from fellow New York comedian Jerry Seinfeld who was working with NBC to develop a comedy pilot. Together, they developed the legendary "show about nothing" starring Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Richards and Jason Alexander. Though not initially successful, Seinfeld would become one of the most successful and influential shows in television history. With a talented cast and daring story lines, the show won legions of loyal fans. According to David, the character of George Costanza was modelled after himself, a cheap, neurotic and ultimately selfish bald man.David wrote and produced Seinfeld until 1996, when he left the show to pursue feature screenwriting. He returned for the season finale in 1998 and made frequent guest appearances throughout the show's run. David also acted in bit roles in Woody Allen's Radio Days (1987) and New York Stories (1989). In 1998, David wrote and directed the feature film Sour Grapes, an irreverent look at the pitfalls of wealth and greed.The following year, David proved his Midas touch once again when he created the hugely successful semi-scripted series Curb Your Enthusiasm for HBO. Originally airing as a special, the show featured David playing himself as a nervous stand-up comic returning to do a television special after a long absence from the stage. The popularity of the special resulted in a weekly HBO series. Partially improvised, the show proved to be another groundbreaking television experiment winning a Golden Globe in 2003 for Best Comedy Series.David married Laurie Lennard in 1993. The couple has two daughters.

Known for: Whatever Works, The Three Stooges, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Seinfeld
* 07/02/1947

Gretchen Corbett(76)

Actress | Camp Sherman, Oregon (US)

Gretchen Corbett was born on August 13, 1945 in Portland, Oregon, USA as Gretchen Hoyt Corbett. She is an actress, known for The Rockford Files (1974), Magnum, P.I. (1980) and Otherworld (1985).

Known for: Pig, The Rockford Files, Otherworld, Magnum, P.I.
* 08/13/1947
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