Famous people and celebrities born in December 1940

Welcome to our dedicated page for celebrating the notable individuals born in December 1940! This month and year saw the birth of many influential figures who have made significant contributions to various fields, including entertainment, sports, politics, and more. Explore the biographies and achievements of these famous personalities and see how their talents have shaped the world. Join us in honoring the stars born in this memorable time.

• Dec. 1 Richard Pryor

  Richard Pryor was an influential American stand-up comedian, actor, and writer, widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential stand-up comedians of all time. Renowned for his uncompromising examinations of racism and topical contemporary issues, he transformed stand-up comedy with his unfiltered and deeply personal performances. [bio]

• Dec. 2 Willie Brown

  Prominent California politician who served as Mayor of San Francisco from 1996 to 2004 and was a powerful Speaker of the California State...

• Dec. 3 Jeffrey Holland

  Jeffrey Holland is an English actor known primarily for his comic roles in British television sitcoms, particularly in the 1970s and 1980s. [bio]

• Dec. 4 Gary Gilmore

  Gary Gilmore was a notorious American criminal known for his controversial execution in 1977, which restarted capital punishment in the...

• Dec. 4 John Cale

  John Cale is a renowned Welsh musician, composer, and record producer, best known as a founding member of the influential rock band The...

• Dec. 6 Richard Edlund

  Renowned visual effects designer who significantly contributed to groundbreaking films like Star Wars and Indiana Jones, winning multiple...

• Dec. 7 Gerry Cheevers

  Legendary Canadian ice hockey goaltender who played in the NHL and was known for his distinctive masked style.

• Dec. 11 Donna Mills

  Donna Mills is an American actress and producer, best known for her long-running role as Abby Cunningham in the prime-time television soap opera 'Knots Landing.' Her career spans theatre, television, and film, and she has been a prominent figure in TV drama since the 1970s. [bio]

• Dec. 11 David Gates in Tulsa

  Musician from Tulsa, Oklahoma, lead of the band Bread.

• Dec. 11 David Gates

  Lead singer and songwriter of the soft rock band Bread, known for hit songs like 'Make It with You' and 'Everything I Own'.

• Dec. 12 Dionne Warwick

  Dionne Warwick is an acclaimed American singer and television host, recognized as one of the most-charted female vocalists of all time. Rising to prominence in the 1960s with her collaborations with songwriters Burt Bacharach and Hal David, she became known for her soulful voice and a string of major hits. [bio]

• Dec. 12 Sharad Pawar

  Prominent Indian politician and businessman who made significant contributions to agriculture and cooperative sectors, serving in key...

• Dec. 12 André Bercoff

  Franco-Lebanese writer and journalist known for writing under multiple pseudonyms, including Philippe de Commines and Philippe Mura.

• Dec. 15 Barbara Valentin

  Barbara Valentin was an Austrian actress renowned for her roles in European cinema during the 1960s and 1970s. She was often described as the 'Austrian Jayne Mansfield' and appeared in numerous German films, notably collaborating with director Rainer Werner Fassbinder. [bio]

• Dec. 15 Nick Buoniconti

  Legendary NFL linebacker who played for the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins, becoming a Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee in 2001.

• Dec. 19 Phil Ochs

  Influential American folk singer and songwriter known for his protest music during the 1960s counterculture movement.

• Dec. 21 Frank Zappa

  Legendary avant-garde musician and composer who revolutionized rock music with his innovative and eclectic style.

• Dec. 24 Anthony Fauci

  Anthony Fauci is an American immunologist and physician who served as the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) from 1984 to 2022. He became a key public health figure during the AIDS crisis of the 1980s and the COVID-19 pandemic beginning in 2020, frequently advising U.S. presidents and the public on contagious disease threats. [bio]

• Dec. 24 Jorma Kaukonen in Washington DC

  A renowned rock guitarist and vocalist, best known as a founding member of the influential psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane and the...

• Dec. 25 Phil Spector

  Influential American music producer known for the 'Wall of Sound' technique and his work with iconic artists like The Beatles and Ike & Tina...

• Dec. 25 Hilary Spurling

  Renowned English biographer and journalist, known for her critically acclaimed literary biographies of notable figures like Matisse and...

• Dec. 26 Edward Prescott

  Nobel Prize-winning American economist who made significant contributions to macroeconomics, particularly in real business cycle theory and...

• Dec. 27 David Shepherd

  Renowned English cricket umpire who officiated in international matches and was widely respected in the cricket world.

• Dec. 29 Fred Hansen

  Olympic gold medalist pole vaulter who set world records in the 1960s.

• Dec. 30 James Burrows

  Legendary television director and producer, known for creating and directing numerous iconic sitcoms that shaped American television comedy.

• Dec. 30 Philippe Cousteau

  Renowned French oceanographer and underwater filmmaker, continuing his father Jacques Cousteau's legacy of marine exploration and...