January 1: What Happened on This Day in History

Barry Goldwater (1909)

Barry Goldwater was an American politician, businessman, and author, best known as a five-term U.S. Senator from Arizona and the Republican Party's nominee for President of the United States in 1964. His conservative positions and campaign greatly influenced the resurgence of the American conservative movement in the latter half of the 20th century. [bio]

Frank Langella (1938)

Frank Langella is an acclaimed American stage and film actor known for his commanding presence and prolific career, especially noted for portraying complex and often villainous roles. He has won a Tony Award and received multiple Academy Award nominations, making him a respected figure in the performing arts. [bio]

Grandmaster Flash (1958)

Grandmaster Flash is a pioneering Barbadian-American DJ, record producer, and songwriter. He is widely recognized as one of the founding figures of hip-hop, known for innovating DJ techniques like cutting, backspinning, and scratching, and for his work with Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. [bio]

Paul Revere (1735)

Paul Revere was an American silversmith, engraver, and prominent patriot best known for his midnight ride to alert the colonial militia of the approaching British forces before the battles of Lexington and Concord during the American Revolutionary War. [bio]

Verne Troyer (1969)

Verne Troyer was an American actor, comedian, and stunt performer, best known for his iconic role as Mini-Me in the Austin Powers film series. Troyer became a pop culture figure thanks to his distinctive appearance and roles in both film and television. [bio]

Colin Morgan (1986)

Colin Morgan is a Northern Irish actor best known for his titular role in the BBC fantasy series 'Merlin.' He has also appeared in theatre productions and other television series, earning critical acclaim for his performances. [bio]

Maurice Béjart (1927)

Maurice Béjart was a renowned French choreographer and dancer who significantly influenced ballet and contemporary dance in the 20th century. He was best known for creating innovative and theatrical ballets, and for founding the Ballet du XXe Siècle (Ballet of the 20th Century) and later the Béjart Ballet Lausanne. [bio]

Michèle Mercier (1939)

Michèle Mercier is a French actress best known internationally for her role as Angélique in the "Angélique" film series during the 1960s. Her performances turned her into an iconic figure in European cinema. [bio]

Rocky Graziano (1919)

Rocky Graziano was an American professional boxer and world middleweight champion, best known for his aggressive fighting style and resilience in the ring. He became a cultural icon in the mid-20th century and later transitioned to television and acting. [bio]

Carmen Ejogo (1973)

Carmen Ejogo is a British actress and singer known for her versatile roles in film and television, notably in biographical dramas and crime series. [bio]

Hank Williams (1953)

Hank Williams was an influential American singer-songwriter and musician, widely regarded as one of the most significant and iconic figures in country music history. His emotionally charged songwriting and vocal delivery profoundly shaped the genre and inspired generations of artists. [bio]

Eugene Wigner (1995)

Eugene Wigner was a Hungarian-American theoretical physicist and mathematician renowned for his significant contributions to the theory of the atomic nucleus and the fundamental principles of symmetry in physics. He won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1963 for his work on the structure of atomic nuclei and the application of symmetry principles to elementary particles. [bio]

Cesar Romero (1994)

Cesar Romero was an American actor and activist best known for his role as the Joker in the 1960s television series 'Batman'. Across his long Hollywood career, Romero excelled in film, television, and stage, playing a variety of roles, including Latin lovers, gangsters, and comedic characters. [bio]

Ray Walston (2001)

Ray Walston was an American actor and comedian best known for his television and film roles spanning seven decades, including iconic performances in 'My Favorite Martian', 'South Pacific', and 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High.' [bio]

Donna Douglas (2015)

Donna Douglas was an American actress and singer best known for playing Elly May Clampett on the television series 'The Beverly Hillbillies.' [bio]

Margaret Sullavan (1960)

Margaret Sullavan was an acclaimed American stage and film actress, best known for her performances during the 1930s and 1940s. Renowned for her distinctive husky voice and emotional intensity, Sullavan left a significant mark on both Broadway and Hollywood before her untimely death. [bio]

June Clayworth (1993)

Actress (bodyguard and criminal court), succumbs to lymphoma.

Gertrude Michael (1965)

Actress (caged cleopatra), who dies at 53.

Shirley Chisholm (2005)

Pioneering African American congresswoman who broke significant racial and gender barriers in U.S.

Grace Hopper (1992)

A pioneering computer scientist and US Navy rear admiral who developed the first compiler and popularized the term 'debugging' in computer...