Famous people born on February 10th
February 10 brings together a striking range of cultural and public-life figures, from world-shaping politicians to artists who redefined modern theater, literature, and music. The date is especially rich in storytellers and performers, but it also features influential voices in journalism, business, and sport. Together, these birthdays trace how ideas travel: from page to stage, from broadcast to boardroom, and from arena to history.
Notable highlights
- Bertolt Brecht (1898) - The German playwright and poet pioneered "epic theater," using alienation effects to make audiences think rather than simply feel.
- Boris Pasternak (1890) - Author of Doctor Zhivago, he became a global symbol of literary conscience amid Soviet-era cultural pressure.
- Harold Macmillan (1894) - As UK prime minister, he navigated decolonization and Cold War politics, memorably warning of a "wind of change" in Africa.
- Charles Lamb (1775) - A master essayist of the Romantic period, he helped shape the personal, conversational English essay through Essays of Elia.
- Stella Adler (1901) - One of the most influential acting teachers in America, she trained generations of performers and argued for imagination over mere emotional recall.
- Mark Spitz (1950) - The swimmer set a standard for Olympic dominance with seven gold medals at the 1972 Munich Games.
- Greg Norman (1955) - Known as "The Shark," he became a global golf brand and a longtime world No. 1 with a famously aggressive style.
- Elizabeth Banks (1974) - A versatile actor-director, she expanded her career behind the camera while maintaining mainstream comedic and franchise success.
- Roberta Flack (1937) - Her intimate, precise vocal delivery helped define 1970s pop-soul, turning restrained emotion into chart-topping power.
- Robert Iger (1951) - The media executive reshaped modern entertainment through major acquisitions and a strategy built around global franchises.
On this day
- 1258 - Baghdad falls to the Mongols, a catastrophic sack that marks the end of the Abbasid Caliphate's political power.
- 1763 - The Treaty of Paris ends the Seven Years' War, redrawing colonial holdings and shifting global influence toward Britain.
- 1840 - Queen Victoria marries Prince Albert, a union that shapes the cultural and political image of the Victorian era.
- 1962 - U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers is exchanged for Soviet spy Rudolf Abel in a Cold War prisoner swap on the Glienicke Bridge.