Famous people born on October 29th
October 29 brings together a notably wide-ranging set of birthdays, from enduring screen and stage talent to influential thinkers, scientists, and political leaders. The date stands out for voices that shaped popular culture as well as public life, spanning centuries and multiple continents. Whether you are drawn to animation, literature, theology, or statecraft, this day offers a deep bench of noteworthy figures.
Notable highlights
- Winona Ryder (1971) - Became a defining face of 1990s cinema and later anchored streaming-era hits with her portrayal of Joyce Byers in "Stranger Things".
- Dan Castellaneta (1957) - The vocal force behind Homer Simpson, he helped turn animated sitcom voice acting into a prime-time cultural institution.
- Edmond Halley (1656) - Pioneered predictive astronomy by calculating the periodic return of the comet that now bears his name.
- Lee Child (1954) - Created Jack Reacher, a modern thriller icon whose books helped revive and globalize the lone-wolf investigative hero.
- Richard Dreyfuss (1947) - Won an Academy Award for "The Goodbye Girl" and became emblematic of 1970s American film through roles in "Jaws" and "Close Encounters".
- Gabrielle Union (1972) - Built a career balancing comedy and drama while also becoming a prominent advocate and author on health and family.
- Abraham Kuyper (1837) - A major Dutch theologian and statesman, he influenced modern Christian social thought through ideas about society’s distinct spheres of authority.
- Ralph Bakshi (1938) - Pushed adult-oriented animation into the mainstream with boundary-testing features that expanded what the medium could tackle.
- Fanny Brice (1891) - A star of the Ziegfeld Follies, her life and persona later inspired the musical and film "Funny Girl".
- David Remnick (1958) - As a journalist and editor, he shaped long-form political and cultural reporting, including his tenure leading The New Yorker.
On this day
- 1929 - The U.S. stock market crash intensified as Black Tuesday accelerated the Great Depression.
- 1969 - The first message was sent over ARPANET, a foundational step toward the modern Internet.
- 1998 - John Glenn returned to space aboard Space Shuttle Discovery, becoming the oldest person to fly in space.