Famous people born on August 28th
August 28 gathers an unusually wide-ranging set of birthday honorees, spanning centuries of literature, music, politics, science, and business. The date links towering classical voices with modern pop culture, from foundational writers to blockbuster entertainers. With 27 notable birthdays, it offers a cross-section of how ideas, stories, and public life can shape the world.
Notable highlights
- Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe (1749) - A defining figure of German literature whose "Faust" helped set the benchmark for European Romantic and classical thought.
- Jack Kirby (1917) - A powerhouse of visual storytelling who co-created major Marvel icons and revolutionized the language of superhero comics.
- Rita Dove (1952) - Pulitzer Prize-winning poet who later served as U.S. Poet Laureate, known for lyric clarity and historical reach.
- Shania Twain (1965) - A crossover country-pop superstar whose arena-scale hits helped redefine 1990s country’s global footprint.
- Sheryl Sandberg (1969) - Tech executive and author associated with Silicon Valley leadership culture and debates over modern workplace equity.
- Jason Priestley (1969) - A defining face of 1990s television whose work helped cement teen drama as a mainstream prime-time genre.
- Donald O'Connor (1925) - Musical-comedy performer celebrated for acrobatic dance and screen charisma, especially in classic Hollywood musicals.
- Janet Frame (1924) - Acclaimed New Zealand novelist whose intensely original fiction explored identity, language, and social margins.
- Leroy Chiao (1960) - NASA astronaut who commanded the International Space Station, contributing to long-duration spaceflight operations.
On this day
- 1963 - Martin Luther King Jr. delivers his "I Have a Dream" speech during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
- 1833 - Slavery is abolished throughout most of the British Empire with the passage of the Slavery Abolition Act.
- 1914 - World War I begins for Britain and its empire as the United Kingdom declares war on Austria-Hungary.
- 1955 - Emmett Till is murdered in Mississippi, an event that became a catalyst for the U.S. civil rights movement.