Famous people born on November 3rd
November 3 gathers an unusually wide-ranging set of birthdays, spanning literature and journalism, politics and public service, comedy and acting, music and composition, and even science and exploration. The date mixes major cultural tastemakers with practical leaders who shaped policy and public debate. Together, these figures show how creativity, persuasion, and curiosity can leave lasting marks across very different arenas.
Notable highlights
- Andre Malraux (1901) - A key French intellectual who later served as Charles de Gaulle's first Minister of Cultural Affairs, helping define modern state cultural policy.
- William C. Bryant (1794) - Influential American poet and longtime editor of the New York Evening Post, shaping 19th-century literary taste and political discourse.
- Roseanne Barr (1952) - Star and co-creator of the groundbreaking sitcom "Roseanne", which reshaped prime-time portrayals of working-class family life.
- Jamie Zawinski (1968) - Programmer known for influential work on early Netscape and for creating the original codebase of the Mozilla Application Suite.
- Shirley Chisholm (1924) - First Black woman elected to the U.S. Congress and a 1972 presidential candidate whose campaign expanded possibilities for representation.
- Amartya Sen (1933) - Nobel-winning economist and philosopher whose capabilities approach reframed how development and well-being are measured beyond income alone.
- Charles Bronson (1920) - Iconic tough-guy film star whose roles in "The Magnificent Seven" and "Death Wish" helped define an era of American action cinema.
- Bob Feller (1918) - Hall of Fame pitcher nicknamed "Rapid Robert", celebrated for overpowering velocity and for leaving baseball to serve in WWII at his peak.
- Walker Evans (1903) - Pioneering photographer whose stark, empathetic images for the Farm Security Administration became visual touchstones of the Great Depression.
- John Barry (1933) - Composer behind multiple James Bond themes, including the enduring "Goldfinger", helping set the sonic identity of the franchise.
On this day
- 1493 - Christopher Columbus first sights Dominica during his second voyage to the Americas.
- 1793 - Olympe de Gouges is executed in Paris during the French Revolution after advocating for civil rights, including women's equality.
- 1918 - The Austro-Hungarian Empire signs the Armistice of Villa Giusti with Italy, hastening the end of World War I.
- 1957 - The Soviet Union launches Sputnik 2, carrying the dog Laika, a major milestone in early spaceflight.
- 1979 - A coup in Afghanistan brings Babrak Karmal to power amid deepening Cold War tensions in the region.