November 9: What Happened on This Day in History

Edward VII (1841)

Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910. He was the eldest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, and his reign marked the start of the Edwardian era, a period of significant change in British society and international relations.[1][2] [bio]

Carl Sagan (1934)

Carl Sagan was an American astronomer, astrophysicist, planetary scientist, cosmologist, author, and science communicator best known for popularizing science and his research on extraterrestrial life. [bio]

Hedy Lamarr (1914)

Hedy Lamarr was an Austrian-born American actress and inventor, celebrated both for her roles in classic Hollywood films and for co-inventing technology foundational to modern wireless communications. [bio]

Spiro Agnew (1918)

Spiro Agnew was the 39th Vice President of the United States, serving under President Richard Nixon from 1969 to 1973. Before his vice presidency, Agnew was the Governor of Maryland and the first person of Greek descent to hold the office of Vice President in U.S. history. He resigned from office in 1973 after being charged with tax evasion and … [bio]

Dorothy Dandridge (1922)

Dorothy Dandridge was an American actress, singer, and dancer, widely recognized as one of the first African-American film stars to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress. She broke racial barriers in Hollywood and is remembered as a pioneering figure for African-Americans in the entertainment industry. [bio]

Eric Dane (1972)

Eric Dane is an American actor best known for his television roles, particularly as Dr. Mark Sloan ('McSteamy') on the hit medical drama 'Grey's Anatomy' and as Tom Chandler on the action series 'The Last Ship.' [bio]

Vanessa Lachey (1980)

Vanessa Lachey is an American television host, actress, and beauty queen best known for winning Miss Teen USA 1998, hosting MTV’s 'Total Request Live', and starring in the TV series 'NCIS: Hawaiʻi'. [bio]

Ed Wynn (1886)

Ed Wynn was an American comedian and actor, best known for his work in vaudeville, radio, and film, as well as his distinctive voice and comic persona. [bio]

Marie Dressler (1869)

Marie Dressler was a Canadian-American stage and screen actress, comedian, and early silent film star who gained major prominence in the late 1920s and 1930s. She is best remembered for her comic timing and roles in early American films, earning an Academy Award for Best Actress. [bio]

Bille August (1948)

Bille August is a Danish film and television director, screenwriter, and cinematographer known for his critically acclaimed films, including 'Pelle the Conqueror' and 'The Best Intentions.' He is one of the most prominent European directors of his generation, having received numerous prestigious awards for his work. [bio]

Charles de Gaulle (1970)

Charles de Gaulle was a renowned French army officer and statesman who led the Free French Forces against Nazi Germany in World War II and later founded the Fifth Republic, serving as its first President from 1959 to 1969. His leadership helped restore French confidence during the war and set the foundation for modern French politics. [bio]

Stieg Larsson (2004)

Stieg Larsson was a Swedish journalist and writer best known for his posthumously published Millennium Trilogy of crime novels, beginning with 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.' [bio]

Art Carney (2003)

Art Carney was an American actor and comedian best known for his iconic role as Ed Norton on the classic television sitcom 'The Honeymooners.' Carney's performance earned him widespread acclaim and established him as one of television's most memorable comedic actors. [bio]

Dylan Thomas (1953)

Dylan Thomas was a renowned Welsh poet and writer, celebrated for his lyrical and emotive poetry as well as his distinctive voice for BBC radio broadcasts. His work helped shape 20th-century literature and continues to be studied and admired worldwide. [bio]

Iris Chang (2004)

Iris Chang was an American journalist, historian, and author, best known for her bestselling book 'The Rape of Nanking', which documented the atrocities committed during the Japanese occupation of Nanjing, China in 1937–1938. [bio]

Charles Bickford (1967)

Charles Bickford was an American actor known for his robust screen presence and versatility, with a career spanning both stage and film. He earned three Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor and appeared in a wide variety of films from the silent era to the 1960s. Bickford was admired for his commanding roles and long-lasting impact on Hollywood. [bio]

Maude Fealy (1971)

Maude Fealy was an American stage and silent film actress, known for her extensive work in theater as well as for her appearances in over 70 silent films. She was noted for her classic beauty and her long, varied career, which spanned from Victorian-era theater to the golden age of Hollywood. [bio]

Victor Sen Yung (1980)

Actor (hop sing bonanza, bachelor family), passes away at 65.

Joe Wong (1978)

Actor ken murray show, dies at 75.

Edna May Oliver (1942)

American actress (born in 1883).