Famous people born on November 21st
November 21 brings together an unusually wide-ranging set of birthdays, spanning Enlightenment philosophy, modern visual art, jazz innovation, and contemporary film and television. The date is marked by figures who reshaped how people think, write, perform, and lead. From iconic cultural voices to influential public servants and athletes, this roster reflects both lasting legacy and pop-culture reach.
Notable highlights
- Voltaire (1694) - A defining voice of the Enlightenment whose sharp satire and advocacy for civil liberties helped popularize ideals of reason and tolerance.
- Rene Magritte (1898) - The Surrealist who turned everyday objects into visual riddles, challenging viewers to question perception and meaning.
- Coleman Hawkins (1904) - A pioneering tenor saxophonist whose recordings helped establish the instrument as a leading voice in jazz.
- Harold Ramis (1944) - A comedy architect whose writing and directing shaped modern film humor, from ensemble classics to enduring cult favorites.
- Goldie Hawn (1945) - A charismatic screen presence who became a symbol of smart, buoyant comedy across decades of popular cinema.
- Bjork (1965) - A boundary-pushing musician known for adventurous production, distinctive vocals, and multimedia experimentation.
- Michael Strahan (1971) - A defensive standout who translated elite athletic success into a prominent media and broadcasting career.
- Marilyn French (1929) - An influential novelist and feminist commentator whose work sparked broad conversation about gender, power, and social expectations.
On this day
- 1783 - The Montgolfier brothers conduct the first untethered hot-air balloon flight carrying people in Paris.
- 1877 - Thomas Edison announces the invention of the phonograph, a breakthrough in recorded sound.
- 1916 - The Britannic, sister ship of the Titanic, sinks in the Aegean Sea after striking a mine during World War I.
- 1969 - The first ARPANET message link is established between UCLA and Stanford, an early milestone toward the internet.
- 1995 - The Dayton Peace Agreement is initialed, helping end the Bosnian War.