Famous people born on October 1st
October 1 has a remarkably wide-ranging roster of birthdays, spanning global politics, stage and screen, sports, and the ideas that shape public life. The date brings together celebrated leaders, iconic performers, influential thinkers, and headline-making figures from very different eras. With 32 notable births in total, it is a day that reflects how many paths can leave a mark on history and culture.
Notable highlights
- Jimmy Carter (1924) - The 39th U.S. president who later became a defining modern example of post-presidency humanitarian work and public service.
- Julie Andrews (1935) - A beloved screen and stage star whose voice and charm helped define classic movie musicals for generations.
- Annie Leibovitz (1949) - A landmark portrait photographer known for shaping the visual language of celebrity and editorial photography.
- Theresa May (1956) - The U.K. prime minister who steered the country through the fraught early years of Brexit negotiations.
- Walter Matthau (1920) - An Oscar-winning actor celebrated for sharp comedic timing and enduring screen chemistry in classic comedies.
- Mark McGwire (1963) - A power-hitting MLB slugger central to the late-1990s home-run chase that redefined baseball’s spotlight.
- George Weah (1966) - A rare crossover from elite football stardom to national leadership, later serving as president of Liberia.
- Jerome S. Bruner (1915) - A pioneering psychologist whose work on cognition and learning influenced modern education and developmental theory.
- Zhu Rongji (1928) - A Chinese premier closely associated with major economic reforms and modernization efforts around the turn of the century.
On this day
- 331 BC - Alexander the Great defeats Darius III at the Battle of Gaugamela, a turning point that accelerates the fall of the Achaemenid Persian Empire.
- 1949 - Mao Zedong proclaims the founding of the People’s Republic of China in Beijing.
- 1960 - Nigeria becomes independent from British rule.
- 1971 - Walt Disney World opens to the public in Florida, launching one of the world’s most influential theme-park resorts.
- 1994 - Palau gains independence, becoming a sovereign nation in free association with the United States.