Famous People Born in 1904

Discover the most famous people born in 1904. The list includes people like Salvador Dali, Dr. Seuss, B. F. Skinner, Cary Grant, J. Robert Oppenheimer and many more. This list of celebrities is loosely sorted by popularity. People featured on this list, include political leaders, physicists, psychologists and journalists born in 1904. This list includes people from United States, United Kingdom, Germany & France and many more countries.

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Birthdate: 2nd March

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Springfield, Massachusetts, United States

Died: September 24, 1991

Dr. Seuss was an American children's author, illustrator, and political cartoonist. He is credited with writing some of the most famous children's books ever, including The Cat in the Hat. His works were translated into over 20 languages and sold more than 600 million copies by the time of his death. Many of his creations were adapted into animated cartoons.

 2 

Salvador Dali

(Spanish Surrealist Painter Best Known for His Work 'The Persistence of Memory')

Birthdate: 11th May

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Figueres, Catalonia, Spain

Died: January 23, 1989

Salvador Dali was a Spanish artist best remembered for his precise draftsmanship and technical skills. His artwork is famous for depicting bizarre and striking images. In spite of producing brilliant artworks, Dali's ostentatious and eccentric public behavior often overshadowed his professional achievements, much to the irritation of his fans and critics. His works have influenced other artists like Jeff Koons.

 3 

Cary Grant

(One of the Leading Men of Classic Hollywood Cinema)

Birthdate: 18th January

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Horfield, Bristol, England

Died: November 29, 1986

Considered one of the greatest actors ever, Cary Grant’s good looks, popular appeal and a knack for romantic comedy made him an enduring Hollywood star from the 1930s to the 1960s. Penny Serenade, An Affair to Remember, To Catch a Thief, North by Northwest and Charade are some of his classic films. He was bestowed an honorary Oscar in 1970.

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 4 

J. Robert Oppenheimer

(American Theoretical Physicist and Former Wartime Head of the ‘Los Alamos Laboratory’)

Birthdate: 22nd April

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: New York, New York, United States

Died: February 18, 1967

Hailed as a brilliant scientific mind, American physicist J Robert Oppenheimer, led the Manhattan Project which resulted in the development of atomic bomb during the World War II. The bombs were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. However, Oppenheimer was in a constant conflict over the moral issue of the weapons of mass destruction and rallied against nuclear proliferation.

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 5 

Glenn Miller

(Trombonist)

Birthdate: 1st March

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Clarinda, Iowa, United States

Died: December 15, 1944

Birthdate: 20th March

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, United States

Died: August 18, 1990

B. F. Skinner was an American behaviorist, psychologist, inventor, author, and social philosopher. Skinner, who taught psychology at Harvard University, is credited with founding a school of thought in psychology called the experimental analysis of behavior. Regarded as a pioneer of modern behaviorism, Skinner was named the 20th century's most influential psychologist, according to a survey conducted in June 2002. 

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 7 

Joan Crawford

(One of the Most Influential Actresses of the 20th Century)

Birthdate: 23rd March

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: San Antonio, Texas, United States

Died: May 10, 1977

Oscar-winning actor Joan Crawford’s journey from being a dancer and chorus girl to being named AFI’s tenth-greatest female Classic Hollywood stars is inspirational. She mostly played the quintessential “damsel in distress” who finds love, in her movies. She had five adopted kids and became a recluse in her later years.

 8 

Peter Lorre

(Best Known for His Role as the Psychotic Child Murderer in the Thriller Film ‘M’)

Birthdate: 26th June

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Ružomberok, Slovakia

Died: March 23, 1964

Hungarian-American actor Peter Lorre went from stage-acting in Vienna to working in films in Germany. He soared to fame with the films M and The Man Who Knew Too Much. He left Germany during the Nazi rule. Fans loved him as Le Chiffre in the TV version of Casino Royale.

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Birthdate: 12th August

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Peterhof, Saint Petersburg, Russia

Died: July 17, 1918

Alexei Nikolaevich, Tsarevich of Russia was the heir apparent to the Russian Empire's throne. The only son of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna and Emperor Nicholas II, Alexei was born with haemophilia, which was treated by the popular faith healer Grigori Rasputin. In 1918, Alexei and his family members were executed brutally by Communist revolutionaries.  

 10 

Johnny Weissmuller

(Olympic Swimmer and Actor Who Played Tarzan)

Birthdate: 2nd June

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Freidorf, Romania

Died: January 20, 1984

Johnny Weissmuller was an American swimmer and actor. Although Weissmuller won five Olympic gold medals and set several world records during his illustrious swimming career, he is best remembered for his portrayal of the title role in the 1932 action-adventure film Tarzan the Ape Man. In 1965, he was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

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Birthdate: 29th September

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Manor Park, London, United Kingdom

Died: April 6, 1996

Greer Garson was an MGM star and remains the fourth-most-nominated lady for the Academy Award for the Best Actress, with her seven nominations and her win with the film Mrs. Miniver. She is also remembered for her Golden Globe-winning role in Sunrise at Campobello. She also received the CBE honor.

Birthdate: 12th July

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Parral, Chile

Died: September 23, 1973

Chilean poet-diplomat and politician, Pablo Neruda, won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971. He was a versatile writer and his works include surrealist poems, historical epics, political manifestos, and love poems. He is considered the national poet of Chile. As a politician, he served a term as a senator for the Chilean Communist Party and held several diplomatic positions.

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Birthdate: 14th November

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Mountain View, Arkansas, United States

Died: January 2, 1963

 14 

John Gielgud

(Former Actor best known for his Shakespearean roles in the theater, he first played Hamlet at the age of 26)

Birthdate: 14th April

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: South Kensington, London, United Kingdom

Died: May 21, 2000

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Dolores del Río

(Mexican Actress Who is Regarded as the First Major Female Latin American Crossover Star in Hollywood)

Birthdate: 3rd August

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Durango, Mexico

Died: April 11, 1983

 16 

Ray Bolger

(Actor)

Birthdate: 10th January

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Dorchester, Massachusetts, USA

Died: January 15, 1987

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Birthdate: 5th July

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Burrton, Kansas, United States

Died: June 12, 1980

 18 

Hans Albert Einstein

(Engineer, Educator)

Birthdate: 14th May

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Bern, Switzerland

Died: July 26, 1973

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 19 

Count Basie

(Former jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer who formed the Count Basie Orchestra)

Birthdate: 21st August

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Red Bank, New Jersey, United States

Died: April 26, 1984

Birthdate: 24th June

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Linton, Indiana, United States

Died: August 11, 1995

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Ralph Bellamy

(Actor and Screenwriter Best Known for His Films: ‘Sunrise at Campobello’ and ‘The Awful Truth’)

Birthdate: 17th June

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States

Died: November 29, 1991

Ralph Bellamy is best remembered for his Academy Award-nominated role in The Awful Truth and his Tony Award-winning role in Sunrise at Campobello. He also portrayed the titular character in the Ellery Queen detective films of the 1940s. He was part of the Hollywood A-listers’ group called the Irish Mafia.

 22 

Tommy Douglas

(Canadian Politician Who was Premier of Saskatchewan from 1944 to 1961)

Birthdate: 20th October

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Camelon, Falkirk, Scotland

Died: February 24, 1986

Tommy Douglas was a Scottish Canadian politician. From 1944 to 1961, he served as premier of Saskatchewan. His cabinet was the first to introduce North America's first single-payer, universal health care program. His life and career inspired a TV miniseries titled Prairie Giant: The Tommy Douglas Story, in which Douglas was played by actor Michael Therriault.

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Birthdate: 2nd October

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Berkhamsted, England

Died: April 3, 1991

English author Henry Graham Greene, better known as Graham Greene, is remembered for his pathbreaking Catholic novels and thrillers. He was shortlisted for the Nobel Prize in Literature. His works include The Third Man and The Human Factor, and his Academy Award-nominated script of the film The Fallen Idol.

Birthdate: 2nd October

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Mughalsarai, Uttar Pradesh, India

Died: January 11, 1966

The second prime minister of India, Lal Bahadur Shastri, was known for his environmental campaigns and his support for the White Revolution. His slogan "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan,” during the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War, became immensely popular. He ended the war by signing the Tashkent Agreement, but died a day later.

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Birthdate: 3rd April

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Kaplan, Louisiana, United States

Died: January 4, 1999

 26 

Robert Montgomery

(American actor)

Birthdate: 21st May

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Beacon, New York

Died: September 27, 1981

Robert Montgomery was an American actor, producer, and director. Renowned for his versatility, Montgomery received two nominations for the prestigious Academy Award under the Best Actor category. Robert Montgomery was awarded a couple of stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to the film and TV industries.

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Birthdate: 19th July

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Riverside, Illinois, United States

Died: December 24, 1985

Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith, one of the great-grandsons of Abraham Lincoln, was the last living descendant of Lincoln. A gentleman farmer, he owned his private farm, and was also a sailor. A qualified lawyer, he also represented Illinois Day as part of the New York World's Fair 1964.

Birthdate: 21st May

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: New York City

Died: December 15, 1943

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Ève Curie

(Journalist and Pianist Best Known for Writing a Biography of Her Mother “Madame Curie”)

Birthdate: 6th December

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Paris, France

Died: October 22, 2007

French and American writer, journalist, and pianist Ève Curie was one of the daughters of scientists Marie Curie and Pierre Curie. She was the only one in the Curie family who did not choose a career in science. She authored her mother’s biography and was actively involved with UNICEF, helping women and children in developing countries.

 30 

Charles R. Drew

(Surgeon and Researcher Who Improved Techniques for Blood Storage)

Birthdate: 3rd June

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Washington, D.C., United States

Died: April 1, 1950

Born into a middle-class African-American family, Charles R. Drew initially excelled in football and track and field, and ended up earning athletic scholarships to fund his studies. He grew up to be a renowned surgeon and revolutionized the storage of blood plasma in blood banks.

 31 

J. R. D. Tata

(Indian Industrialist and Chairman of the ‘Tata Group’)

Birthdate: 29th July

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Paris, France

Died: November 29, 1993

An aviation pioneer, J. R. D. Tata channeled the Tata Group for over five decades, leading to the expansion of India's largest industrial empire. He was honoured with the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, two of India's highest civillian awards. He was also honored with French Legion of Honour twice. 

 32 

Joseph Campbell

(American Writer Best Known for His Book ‘The Hero with a Thousand Faces’)

Birthdate: 26th March

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: White Plains, New York, United States

Died: October 30, 1987

Joseph Campbell taught literature at the Sarah Lawrence College and specialized in comparative mythology and comparative religion. His notable works include The Hero with a Thousand Faces and the four-volume Historical Atlas of World Mythology. He also worked on the miniseries, The Power of Myth, with Bill Moyers.

 33 

Constance Bennett

(Actress)

Birthdate: 22nd October

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA

Died: July 24, 1965

 34 

Raymond Bailey

(Actor)

Birthdate: 6th May

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: San Francisco, California, USA

Died: April 15, 1980

 35 

Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt

(Socialite best known as the mother of fashion designer and artist Gloria Vanderbilt)

Birthdate: 23rd August

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Switzerland

Died: February 13, 1965

 36 

Lili Damita

(Actress)

Birthdate: 10th July

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Blaye, France

Died: March 21, 1994

Birthdate: 16th November

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Zungeru, Nigeria

Died: May 11, 1996

Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe was a Nigerian political leader and statesman. From 1963 to 1966, Azikiwe served as the first president of Nigeria. Often referred to as the Father of Nigerian Nationalism, Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe played an important role in Nigeria's struggle for independence. He is also credited with establishing the University of Nigeria (UNN).

 38 

Alberta Williams King

(Martin Luther King Jr.'s Mother)

Birthdate: 13th September

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Died: June 30, 1974

 39 

C. Day Lewis

(British poet and Poet Laureate from 1968 until his death in 1972.)

Birthdate: 27th April

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Ballintubber, Ireland

Died: May 22, 1972

C. Day-Lewis was an Anglo-Irish poet who also wrote many mystery stories. From 1968 to 1972, he served as the Poet Laureate. He also contributed as a publications editor duringWorld War II, working for theMinistry of Information.

 40 

George Brent

(Actor)

Birthdate: 15th March

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Ballinasloe, Ireland

Died: May 26, 1979

 41 

George Balanchine

(The Father of American Ballet)

Birthdate: 22nd January

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: St. Petersburg, Russia

Died: April 30, 1983

George Balanchine was a Georgian-American ballet choreographer. One of the most prominent choreographers of the 20th century, Balanchine won several prestigious awards like the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1983. Referred to asthe father of American ballet, Balanchine is credited with co-founding the New York City Ballet. He was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1988.

 42 

René Lacoste

(French Tennis Player and Businessman)

Birthdate: 2nd July

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Paris, France

Died: October 12, 1996

 43 

Nancy Mitford

(English Novelist and Biographer Who is Known for Writing Popular Historical Biographies)

Birthdate: 28th November

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: London, England

Died: June 30, 1973

Born to the 2nd Baron Redesdale, Nancy Mitford and her siblings were all homeschooled. Known as one of the brightest of the Mitford sisters, she became famous for writing semi-autobiographical novels such as The Pursuit of Love. She pioneered the use of language to distinguish between social classes in books.

Birthdate: 14th January

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Hampstead, London, England

Died: January 18, 1980

Cecil Beaton was a British war, portrait, and fashion photographer. A multi-talented personality, Beaton is also known for his work as a painter, diarist, interior designer, and costume designer. Cecil Beaton worked with popular publications like Vogue before becoming a leading war photographer. His work as a costume designer for the theatre and films earned him Oscars and Tony Awards.  

 45 

Isamu Noguchi

(American Landscape Architect and Artist Who Designed the Modern Piece of Furniture Known as the 'Noguchi Table')

Birthdate: 17th November

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States

Died: December 30, 1988

Isamu Noguchi was an American landscape architect and artist best remembered for designing the iconic Noguchi table. His sculptures are credited with bridging East and West and some of his works are considered landmarks of 20th-century art. In 1982, he won the Edward MacDowell Medal. In 1987, he received the National Medal of Arts for his contribution to the arts. 

Birthdate: 7th August

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States

Died: December 9, 1971

Birthdate: 15th September

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Castle of Racconigi, Racconigi, Italy

Died: March 18, 1983

Umberto II, the only son of King Victor Emmanuel III, was the last king of Italy and ruled for just 34 days, from May 9 to June 12, 1946, and then went into exile. Also known as Re di Maggio, he was the de facto head of state since 1944.

Birthdate: 29th December

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Chikkamagaluru district

Died: November 11, 1994

One of the greatest Kannada literary figures to have ever lived, Jnanpith Award- and Padma Vibhushan-winning author Kuvempu had written the state anthem of Karnataka, Jaya Bharata Jananiya Tanujate. He was also an academic who had served as the Mysore University vice-chancellor and often voiced his concerns on social issues.

 49 

George Formby

(Actor, Comedian, Film producer, Musician)

Birthdate: 26th May

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Wigan

Died: March 6, 1961

 50 

Tom Conway

(British Actor Best Known for His Portrayals of Private Detectives)

Birthdate: 15th September

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Saint Petersburg, Russia

Died: April 22, 1967

Best known for playing detectives such as The Falcon and Sherlock Holmes, British actor Tom Conway also appeared in 2 Tarzan movies and a few Val Lewton cult horror movies. His performance in an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents was appreciated by critics. He also voiced a role in 101 Dalmatians.