Famous people born on February 9th
February 9 brings together Nobel-winning writers, influential policymakers, and entertainers who shaped film, music, and the stage. The day stands out for its literary and intellectual depth, while also spanning pop culture icons and public figures with lasting impact. From groundbreaking novels to chart-topping songs and political leadership, these birthdays reflect a wide creative and civic range.
Notable Highlights
- Alice Walker (1944) - Author of "The Color Purple," she helped broaden American literature with acclaimed explorations of race, gender, and resilience.
- J. M. Coetzee (1940) - Nobel Prize-winning novelist whose spare, incisive fiction interrogates power, conscience, and colonial legacies.
- Joseph Stiglitz (1943) - Nobel laureate in economics known for work on information asymmetry and influential critiques of globalization policy.
- Carole King (1942) - Singer-songwriter behind "Tapestry," one of the defining albums of the singer-songwriter era.
- Tom Hiddleston (1981) - Actor widely recognized for Loki in the Marvel universe, alongside acclaimed stage work including Shakespeare.
- Zhang Ziyi (1979) - International film star whose roles in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Memoirs of a Geisha" helped expand global audiences for Asian cinema.
- Judith Light (1949) - Emmy and Tony-winning performer celebrated for both television breakthroughs and a major stage career.
- William Henry Harrison (1773) - Ninth U.S. president whose one-month tenure remains the shortest in American history.
- Brendan Behan (1923) - Irish playwright and memoirist remembered for "The Quare Fellow" and his vivid, rebellious public persona.
- Joe Pesci (1943) - Oscar-winning actor famed for volatile, sharp-edged performances in landmark crime films.
On This Day
- 1849 - The Roman Republic is proclaimed in Rome, signaling a major moment in the revolutionary upheavals of 1848-49.
- 1870 - The U.S. Weather Bureau is authorized, laying groundwork for a national system of weather forecasting and warnings.
- 1943 - The Allied victory at Guadalcanal is secured as Japan completes evacuation, a turning point in the Pacific War.
- 1950 - U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy delivers a speech in Wheeling, West Virginia, helping ignite the era of heightened anti-communist investigations.