The following are famous people born in January including politicians, TV personalities, celebrities, actors and actresses, and sportspeople. Infamous politicians who were born in January include U.S. civil rights movement leader Martin Luther King Jr., president Alassane Ouattara of Ivory Coast, president Samia Suluhu of Tanzania, and former prime minister of Kenya Raila Odinga.
Other personalities & celebs born in January are Former U.S. first lady Michelle Obama, Mr. Bean actor Rowan Atkinson, and Kenyan 3-time Olympic champion, middle and long distance runner Faith Kipyegon. American Queen of Country music Dolly Parton, and Batman actor Christian Bale also have January birthdays.
Celebrities with January Birthdays
Died aged 56
American actress whose parents were Chinese American and she was the 1st Chinese American film star in Hollywood
English actress whose recent movies include Thunderbolts* (2025), Black Widow (2021), Hawkeye (2021), Fighting with My Family (2019)
Died aged 81
First President of Kenya from 1964 to his death in 1978, and Prime Minister from 1963 to 1964
Irish actress most famous as Morgana Pendragon in Merlin (2008–2012) and Lena Luthor in Supergirl (2016–2021)
Australian actress who acts in MCU films Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019), Spider-Man: No Way Home
Irish actor most famous as Robin Hood on Robin Hood (2006–2009), & stars in Troy: Fall of a City (2018), Dark Angel (2016)
Canadian actress and dancer who stars as Penelope in Odysseus: Voyage to the Underworld (2008), Michelle in Mercy (2023)
Venezuelan model and social media influencer, popular on Instagram & famous as ex-wife to singer Marc Anthony
Canadian actress and singer who stars in TV series Little Mosque on the Prairie (2007–2012), Die Hard 2 (1990), The Umbrella Academy
American rapper, her hits include Munch (Feelin' U) (2022), Princess Diana (2023), Karma (2023), & Barbie World (2023)
Other Politicians born in January
Other politicians born in January are former Prime minister of Italy Matteo Renzi, leader of Tanzanian opposition Tundu Lissu, and former anti-apartheid activist Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. Presidents Omar al-Bashir of Sudan and Nicolas Sarkozy of France were born in January. American political activist Eric Trump also celebrates his birthday in January.
Famous sports personalities born in January include Manchester City manager and former Spanish player Pep Guardiola, two-time world boxing heavyweight champion George Foreman, and the man regarded as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time, Muhammad Ali.
Uruguayan forward Luis Suárez and Portuguese football manager José Mourinho also celebrate their birthdays in January.
Famous Actors, Actresses and TV Personalities born in January
Famous January actresses include Heather Graham (Boogie Nights), Eiza González of Alita: Battle Angel, Betty White of The Golden Girls, and Kerry Washington who stars as Olivia Pope in Scandal.
American actors Cuba Gooding Jr, Jeremy Renner, Elijah Wood, Gene Hackman and Kevin Costner were born in the first month. Other famous birthdays celebs for January are American talk show host Oprah Winfrey and Fallin singer Alicia Keys. January babies also include musicians Haddaway and R. Kelly, and the late Kenyan author Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o who was born on January 5, 1938.
Recently updated January birthdays
January Historical Events
1st January 1912:The Republic of China was formed, marking the end of the Xinhai Revolution that brought an end to the 2,000 years of imperial rule during which China was ruled by successive dynasties of emperors. The first emperor was Qin Shi Huang, founder of the Qin dynasty in 221 BC. The last emperor was Aisin-Gioro Puyi of the Qing Dynasty, whose fall led to the founding of the Peoples Republic of China.
8th January 1912:The African National Congress (ANC) was formed in South Africa. The social-democratic party began as a liberation movement that was formed to oppose the apartheid (institutionalized racial segregation) that black South Africans were subject to from around 1948. In 1994, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, became the first president of South Africa after the end of white minority rule.
12th January 1964:The Zanzibar Revolution was started by the black majority inhabitants of the Indian Ocean island. Located in East Africa and 15 miles off the coast of Tanzania, the island was ruled by an Arab government led by the Sultans of Zanzibar who were in power from 1856 to 1964.
The revolution led to the overthrow of the Sultan, and Abeid Karume became the president. The country was also renamed to the People's Republic of Zanzibar.
15th January 1929:Famous U.S civil rights movement activist, Martin Luther King Jr, was born. Martin Luther King Jr was the outspoken spokesperson of the civil rights movement that was formed to protest racial discrimination on the basis of skin color, ethnicity and race.
Although Dr. King was born on 15th, the third Monday of each January is celebrated in the U.S as the Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
26th January 1950: The Constitution of India came into effect, replacing the Government of India Act 1935 that was the governing document of India and which was adapted from the UK Parliament. India had, 3 years earlier, attained independence from the UK on 15 August 1947, the date on which the British Raj (the period of British rule of India) ended.