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Famous people born on November 29th

November 29 has produced a striking mix of imaginative storytellers, public leaders, and cultural innovators. The date spans centuries, linking early scientific curiosity with modern politics, architecture, music, and film. Whether you gravitate toward fantasy, comedy, or civic life, this birthday roster offers a wide cross-section of influence.

Notable highlights

  • C. S. Lewis (1898) - The Oxford scholar whose Narnia books and Christian apologetics shaped 20th-century popular theology and fantasy.
  • Madeleine L'Engle (1918) - Wove science, faith, and coming-of-age themes into A Wrinkle in Time, a landmark of young adult literature.
  • Vin Scully (1927) - Revered broadcaster whose storytelling cadence became synonymous with Los Angeles Dodgers baseball for decades.
  • John Templeton (1912) - Investor and philanthropist known for the Templeton Prize, spotlighting big questions at the intersection of science and spirituality.
  • Rahm Emanuel (1959) - Political strategist and policymaker who served as White House Chief of Staff and later as Mayor of Chicago.
  • Garry Shandling (1949) - A comedy innovator who helped redefine meta-sitcom storytelling with The Larry Sanders Show.
  • Louisa May Alcott (1832) - Author of Little Women, whose domestic realism and moral complexity made it an enduring classic.
  • Joel Coen (1954) - Filmmaker behind darkly comic, genre-bending movies such as Fargo and No Country for Old Men.
  • Anna Faris (1976) - Comedy star celebrated for fearless timing, from Scary Movie to her long-running sitcom work.
  • Gemma Chan (1982) - Actress known for roles in major franchises and prestige TV, balancing blockbuster visibility with nuanced performances.

On this day

  • 1947 - The United Nations votes to approve a plan to partition Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states.
  • 1987 - Korean Air Flight 858 is destroyed by a bomb, killing everyone on board and shocking international aviation security.
  • 1990 - The United Nations Security Council authorizes the use of force if Iraq does not withdraw from Kuwait, paving the way for the Gulf War.
Author Nationality Profession Quotes Year
Alex Grey USA Artist 5 1953
Amos Bronson Alcott USA Educator 23 1799 - 1888
Andrew McCarthy USA Actor 12 1962
Anna Faris USA Actress 18 1976
Arthur Peacocke England Theologian 8 1924 - 2006
Billy Strayhorn USA Composer 12 1915 - 1967
C. S. Lewis United Kingdom Author 52 1898 - 1963
Cass Gilbert USA Architect 2 1859 - 1934
Chuck Mangione USA Musician 31 1940
Ezra Stiles USA Clergyman 23 1727 - 1795
Garry Shandling USA Comedian 28 1949 - 2016
Gemma Chan United Kingdom Actress 10 1982
George Gilder USA Writer 8 1939
Gertrude Jekyll United Kingdom Celebrity 8 1843 - 1932
Harald Sohlberg Norway Painter 2 1869 - 1935
Howie Mandel Canada Comedian 15 1955
Jacques Chirac France Statesman 14 1932 - 2019
Janet Napolitano USA Politician 28 1957
Jerry Lawler USA Entertainer 18 1949
Joel Coen USA Director 34 1954
John Ambrose Fleming England Inventor 3 1849 - 1945
John D. Barrow England Scientist 2 1952 - 2020
John Mayall United Kingdom Musician 11 1933
John Ray England Environmentalist 10 1627 - 1705
John Templeton USA Businessman 16 1912 - 2008
Jon Lee Anderson USA Journalist 4 1957
Kim Delaney USA Actress 1 1961
Louisa May Alcott USA Novelist 29 1832 - 1888
Madeleine L'Engle USA Novelist 16 1918 - 2007
Martha Beck USA Author 35 1962
Merle Travis USA Musician 4 1917 - 1983
Rahm Emanuel USA Politician 24 1959
Ronnie Montrose USA Musician 15 1947 - 2012
Ryan Giggs Welsh Athlete 5 1973
Tom Sizemore USA Actor 10 1961
Vin Scully USA Celebrity 9 1927
Wendell Phillips USA Activist 33 1811 - 1884
William L. Jenkins USA Politician 11 1936
Willie Morris USA Writer 2 1934 - 1999