Famous January Birthdays – Personalities & Celebs born in January

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

Sarah Shahi
Sarah Shahi
Born on 10 Jan 1980

American actress whose acting roles include in films Person of Interest (2012–2016), Black Adam (2022), Teachers (2006)

Michael Schumacher
Michael Schumacher
Born on 3 Jan 1969

German famous as a racing driver in Formula One (1991-2006 and 2010-2012) and 7-time winner of Formula One World Drivers' Championship titles

Nicolas Cage
Nicolas Cage
Born on 7 Jan 1964

Versatile American actor whose famous movies include Con Air (1997), Face/Off (1997), Ghost Rider films (2007–2011)

Luis Suárez
Luis Suárez
Born on 24 Jan 1987

Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a striker most recently for Major League Soccer club Inter Miami

Kyle Richards
Kyle Richards
Born on 11 Jan 1969

American actress, socialite, TV personality famous for her main role on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills since 2010

Estelle
Estelle
Born on 18 Jan 1980

British rapper and singer and who has done collabos with famous artists such as Kanye West, Akon, Nas and Chris Brown

Tundu Lissu
Tundu Lissu
Born on 20 Jan 1968

Tanzanian lawyer, politician, anti-corruption activist, former Member of Parliament and leader of Tanzania's main opposition party

Jeremy Renner
Jeremy Renner
Born on 7 Jan 1971

American actor famous as Clint Barton / Hawkeye in The Avengers (2012) and Brian Gamble in S.W.A.T. (2003)

Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton
Born on 19 Jan 1946

American singer, songwriter, actress, businesswoman famous as the Queen of Country who has sold more than 100 million records worldwide

Gene Hackman
Gene Hackman
30 Jan 1930 - 18 Feb 2025

American actor famous in Unforgiven (1992), The Quick and the Dead (1995), Enemy of the State (1998), Absolute Power (1997)

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Famous people born in January
Popular comedian and Mr Bean actor, Rowan Atkinson, is one of the famous people born in January

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.

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.

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