Famous people born on January 13th
January 13 brings together a remarkably varied set of birthdays, spanning screen stars and stage innovators, political leaders and reformers, and influential thinkers in science and literature. The date reflects both mainstream pop-culture impact and quieter, long-lasting contributions in ideas and public life. From Hollywood to the halls of government and the laboratory, January 13 is rich with recognizable names and surprising legacies.
Notable highlights
- Orlando Bloom (1977) - Rose to global fame through blockbuster franchises, notably as Legolas in The Lord of the Rings.
- Liam Hemsworth (1990) - Broke out internationally with The Hunger Games film series and expanded into action and drama roles.
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus (1961) - Built an elite TV comedy legacy, including her award-dominating run as Selina Meyer on Veep.
- Patrick Dempsey (1966) - Became a defining medical-drama lead as Dr. Derek Shepherd on Grey's Anatomy.
- Salmon P. Chase (1808) - Served as U.S. Chief Justice and helped shape Civil War-era federal policy and finance.
- Ernestine Rose (1810) - A pioneering reformer whose activism linked early feminism, abolitionism, and religious freedom advocacy.
- Philip Warren Anderson (1923) - Nobel-winning physicist whose work on condensed matter transformed modern materials science.
- Sydney Brenner (1927) - Nobel laureate who helped establish C. elegans as a cornerstone model organism in genetics.
- Gwen Verdon (1925) - A Broadway powerhouse closely associated with Bob Fosse and several landmark musical productions.
- Edmund White (1940) - A major voice in contemporary literature, celebrated for influential novels, memoirs, and biographies.
On this day
- 1128 - The Council of Troyes recognizes the Knights Templar, helping formalize a new military religious order.
- 1794 - The U.S. Congress authorizes the construction of six frigates, laying foundations for the United States Navy.
- 1893 - The independent Kingdom of Hawaii is overthrown in a coup that begins a decisive shift toward U.S. control.
- 1920 - New York Times reporter John Reed, author of Ten Days That Shook the World, is buried at the Kremlin Wall Necropolis.