Famous people born on August 11th

August 11 stands out for the sheer range of influence represented across its birthdays, spanning foundational thinkers, cultural icons, and innovators who shaped modern life. From groundbreaking technology and global politics to literature, journalism, and award-winning performance, the date offers a surprisingly broad cross-section of public achievement. It is a day that links contrarian ideas, mass entertainment, and serious scholarship in one calendar square.

Notable highlights

• Steve Wozniak (1950) - As Apple"s co-founder and engineering force, he helped turn the personal computer into an approachable household tool with the Apple I and Apple II.
• Viola Davis (1965) - An acclaimed stage-and-screen performer, she became one of the few artists to achieve the EGOT, recognized for roles marked by emotional precision and range.
• Chris Hemsworth (1983) - He reached global stardom as Marvel"s Thor, balancing blockbuster charisma with varied work in action, comedy, and drama.
• Alex Haley (1921) - His work on family history and identity, especially Roots, helped transform public interest in genealogy and American historical memory.
• Marilyn vos Savant (1946) - Known for her long-running "Ask Marilyn" column, she popularized logic puzzles and public-facing problem-solving, famously engaging with the Monty Hall question.
• Joe Rogan (1967) - A comedian and media host who became a major figure in podcasting, he helped redefine long-form interviews and conversation as mainstream entertainment.
• Hulk Hogan (1953) - A defining star of professional wrestling"s 1980s boom, he became a crossover celebrity who brought the sport to a far broader pop-culture audience.
• Frederick W. Smith (1944) - He founded FedEx and helped make overnight shipping a global expectation, reshaping logistics through the hub-and-spoke delivery model.
• Aaron Klug (1926) - A Nobel Prize-winning scientist, he advanced structural biology by developing methods to study complex molecular assemblies.
• Robert G. Ingersoll (1833) - Nicknamed "The Great Agnostic", he was a famed orator who argued for secularism, freethought, and civil liberties in 19th-century America.

On this day

• 480 - The Battle of Thermopylae concludes as the Persian army outflanks the Greek defenders, an episode that became a lasting symbol of sacrifice and resistance.
• 1960 - Chad declares independence from France, marking a major milestone in the wave of African decolonization.
• 1965 - Riots erupt in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, exposing deep racial and economic tensions and shaping national conversations on civil rights and policing.
• 2003 - NATO takes command of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, its first major mission outside the North Atlantic area.