Famous people born on April 6th
April 6 is a surprisingly wide-ranging birthday on the calendar, spanning reformers and journalists, groundbreaking scientists, and entertainers who shaped modern film, television, and music. The date brings together voices that challenged corruption, decoded life at the molecular level, and defined beloved pop-culture characters. From aviation and computing to labor rights and jazz, these birthdays reflect both intellectual ambition and popular appeal.
Notable highlights
- Lincoln Steffens (1866) - A leading muckraker whose reporting helped expose municipal corruption in early 20th-century America.
- Nicolas Chamfort (1741) - A sharp-tongued moralist remembered for epigrams that distilled Enlightenment wit into enduring aphorisms.
- James D. Watson (1928) - Co-discoverer of the DNA double helix structure, a foundational breakthrough for modern genetics.
- Donald Wills Douglas (1892) - Founder of the Douglas Aircraft Company, influential in shaping commercial and military aviation.
- Alexander Herzen (1812) - A major Russian thinker and publisher whose exile journalism fueled reformist debate across Europe.
- Rose Schneiderman (1882) - Labor organizer who helped advance workplace safety and women's rights in the wake of industrial-era tragedies.
- Merle Haggard (1937) - A cornerstone of the Bakersfield sound, blending working-class storytelling with country music innovation.
- Billy Dee Williams (1937) - Film icon best known for portraying Lando Calrissian, bringing charisma and style to the Star Wars universe.
- Zach Braff (1975) - Actor-director associated with a distinct 2000s indie sensibility, including directing and starring in "Garden State".
- John Ratzenberger (1947) - A familiar screen presence who became a Pixar constant through voice roles across many of the studio's films.
On this day
- 1320 - The Declaration of Arbroath is dated, asserting Scotland's independence and influencing later ideas about sovereignty.
- 1896 - The first modern Olympic Games open in Athens, reviving an international athletic tradition.
- 1917 - The United States declares war on Germany, entering World War I.
- 1994 - The Rwandan genocide begins following the assassination of President Juvénal Habyarimana.