Famous people born on July 3rd

July 3 brings together an unusually wide range of cultural and public-life voices, from modernist literature and theater to film, music, politics, and visual art. The date pairs globally recognized entertainers with influential writers and thinkers whose work reshaped how stories are told. Spanning centuries, these birthdays reflect both pop-culture impact and enduring historical significance.

Notable highlights

• Franz Kafka (1883) - The Prague-born novelist helped define modern existential literature; "kafkaesque" entered the language as shorthand for oppressive, surreal bureaucracy.
• Tom Stoppard (1937) - A master of witty, idea-driven drama, he fused philosophy and farce in landmark plays such as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.
• Tom Cruise (1962) - One of the defining movie stars of the blockbuster era, he anchored long-running action franchises while also taking on high-risk dramatic roles.
• Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1860) - A major voice in early feminist literature and social reform, she wrote the influential short story The Yellow Wallpaper.
• Tracey Emin (1963) - A leading figure of the Young British Artists, she turned autobiography into provocative installations and confessional works that sparked public debate.
• Dave Barry (1947) - The Pulitzer Prize-winning humor columnist became known for sharp, accessible satire about everyday American life.
• Julian Assange (1971) - The activist and publisher associated with WikiLeaks became a central figure in global arguments over secrecy, journalism, and government accountability.
• Sebastian Vettel (1987) - A multiple-time Formula One World Champion, he became one of the sport's most successful drivers of his generation.
• Giorgio Vasari (1511) - Often called the first art historian, his Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects shaped how the Renaissance is remembered.
• Jack Schmitt (1935) - A geologist-astronaut and Apollo 17 crew member, he remains the last person to have walked on the Moon.

On this day

• 1775 - George Washington took command of the Continental Army at Cambridge, assuming leadership in the early stages of the American Revolutionary War.
• 1863 - The Battle of Gettysburg reached its decisive climax with Pickett's Charge, a failed Confederate assault that became a turning point in the U.S. Civil War.
• 1971 - Jim Morrison of The Doors died in Paris, an event that intensified the mythology surrounding the late-1960s rock era.
• 1988 - The U.S. Navy cruiser USS Vincennes shot down Iran Air Flight 655, killing all aboard and triggering international condemnation and long-lasting controversy.