Famous people born on November 11th
November 11 has an unusually wide-ranging roster of birthdays, spanning world literature, military history, politics, science, music, and film. The date gathers innovators who shaped how we read and write, how nations remember war, and how culture is made and debated. From nineteenth-century classics to modern screen icons, these lives reflect the breadth of human achievement.
Notable highlights
- Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821) - The Russian novelist whose psychological realism in works like "Crime and Punishment" still defines the modern literary canon.
- George S. Patton (1885) - U.S. Army general celebrated for his fast-moving armored campaigns in World War II and his larger-than-life leadership style.
- Kurt Vonnegut (1922) - Satirical author of "Slaughterhouse-Five", blending dark humor with antiwar and humanist themes shaped by his WWII experience.
- Paracelsus (1493) - Physician and alchemist who helped shift medicine toward chemistry, challenging orthodox medieval medical theory.
- Leonardo DiCaprio (1974) - Academy Award-winning actor whose career spans global blockbusters and prestige dramas, alongside high-profile environmental advocacy.
- Daisy Bates (1914) - Civil rights leader who mentored and supported the Little Rock Nine during school desegregation in Arkansas.
- Paul Signac (1863) - Neo-Impressionist painter and theorist who advanced Pointillism and helped popularize modern color theory in art.
- Calista Flockhart (1964) - Actress best known for "Ally McBeal", a defining late-1990s TV role that blended comedy with legal drama.
- Barbara Boxer (1940) - U.S. senator from California known for prominent work on environmental and consumer protection issues.
- Lee Haney (1959) - Eight-time Mr. Olympia champion whose training philosophy helped reshape modern professional bodybuilding.
On this day
- 1918 - World War I ends as the Armistice takes effect, marking the cessation of fighting on the Western Front.
- 1920 - The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is dedicated at Arlington National Cemetery to honor unidentified war dead.
- 1942 - World War II: Germany occupies Vichy France in Case Anton after Allied landings in North Africa.
- 1975 - Angola gains independence from Portugal, accelerating Cold War-era regional conflict.