Stephen William Hawking was an English theoretical astrophysicist, cosmologist, and author who was director of research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology at the University of Cambridge.
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Dated facts from Wikidata; ages marked “about” come from year-only dates.
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Also born on January 8
Inventor
1957 · United States
$3.9Bolder estimate, as of 2025 · Forbes
Theodore John Leonsis is a Greek American billionaire businessman and sports team owner.
DCBiz500, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Musician
1935–1977 · United States
Elvis Aaron Presley was an American singer and actor. Referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll", he is widely regarded as one of the most culturally significant figures of the 20th century.
MGM, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Actor
1947–2016 · United Kingdom
David Robert Jones, known as David Bowie, was an English singer, songwriter and actor. Regarded as among the most influential musicians of the 20th century, he was known for his frequent reinvention and visual presentation, and is often referred to as the "chameleon of rock".
Adam Bielawski, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Politician
1983 · North Korea
Kim Jong Un is a North Korean politician and dictator who is currently serving as the supreme leader of North Korea since 2011, following the death of his father, Kim Jong Il.
Владимир Смирнов / ТАСС, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Actor
1987 · United Kingdom
Cynthia Erivo is a British actress and singer. Known for her work on both stage and screen, she is the recipient of several accolades and one of few individuals nominated for an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony Award (EGOT), winning all but the Oscar.
Kevin Paul, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Musician
1967 · United States
Robert Sylvester Kelly, known professionally as R. Kelly, is an American former singer, songwriter, and record producer who is credited with prolific commercial success in contemporary R&B, hip-hop, and pop music recordings.
Miami Police Department, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons