The most famous actor the same age as you
The most famous actor the same age as you
Some celebrity rags will insist that the stars are "just like us", but let's be honest鈥攎ost actors are far more eccentric and vain than the average citizen (not to mention significantly wealthier). That said, humans are all pretty much the same at birth, so in a manner of speaking, the stars are like us in that they were once drooling babies, too. In fact, a good handful of them were born the very same year you were鈥攊t's practically like you're twins, right?
It can be a surprise to find out you're the same age as someone you remember as a child star鈥攐r that you're so much older than some of the biggest celebrities on screen today. Famous people notoriously look younger than their actual ages, and the nature of the entertainment industry is such that its frequenters often seem ageless. Classic movies and television shows transcend time and have the uncanny ability to transport their viewers through a variety of eras, cultural moments, and, of course, styles. But it's also intriguing when actors are exactly your own age鈥攁nd grew up with the same popular culture you enjoyed.
While we won't suggest measuring your own development against that of a Hollywood actor, it might be interesting to know which stars are your age (even if age is the last thing a celebrity wants you to think about). For that, 麻豆原创 is on the call. We're listing out the most famous actor born every year from 1920 to 2005, and even throwing in a few extra names per year for good measure.
After finding the actor's birthdays, we used from the past year (April 2017 to March 2018). Without further ado, we present the most famous actors according to birth year.
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1920: Mickey Rooney
Date of birth: Sept. 23
Born under the name Joe Yule Jr. in Brooklyn, NY, actor Mickey Rooney first took the stage at the age of just 17 months, appearing in his parents鈥 vaudeville act. He would debut on screen just five years later, and soon star in 鈥淢ickey McGuire,鈥 a series of comedy shorts. It was for this series that Joe Yule Jr. officially changed his name to Mickey Rooney. A prolific career would follow, which didn鈥檛 expire until he died in 2014 (unfortunately in the midst of an elder abuse scandal).
Other notable actors: Yul Brynner, Walter Matthau
1921: Charles Bronson
Date of birth: Nov. 3
The 11th of 15 children born to Lithuanian immigrants, Charles Buchinsky was a Pennsylvania coal miner and WWII soldier before trying his luck in Hollywood and changing his name to Charles Bronson. After starring in a number of bit parts, Bronson would soon become Tinseltown鈥檚 go-to tough guy for films like 鈥淒eath Wish,鈥 in which he played a vigilante on a quest for revenge. The film spawned four sequels, including 鈥淒eath Wish V: The Face of Death鈥濃 Bronson鈥檚 last starring role.
Other notable actors: Rodney Dangerfield, Chuck Connors
1922: Dilip Kumar
Date of birth: Dec. 11
Just coming off his 95th birthday is actor Dilip Kumar, Bollywood's oldest living star. Born Mohammed Yousuf Khan, Kumar began method acting before the concept even existed. Over the course of five decades, he would appear in no less than 65 films.
Other notable actors: Christopher Lee, Carl Reiner
1923: Charlton Heston
Date of birth: Oct. 4
Famous for playing iconic lead roles in films like 鈥淧lanet of the Apes鈥, 鈥淭he Ten Commandments鈥 and 鈥淏en-Hur,鈥 Charlton Heston was a perennial big-screen hero during the height of his career. The actor was born John Charles Carter in Illinois, later combining his mother's surname (Charlton) with his father's last name (Heston) when launching his career. Toward the end of his life, Heston would become as well known for his role as NRA president and spokesman as he would for any cinematic performance.
Other notable actors: James Arness, Cliff Robertson
1924: Marlon Brando
Date of birth: April 3
Actors don't get much more legendary than Marlon Brando, who was born in 1924 in Omaha, Nebraska, and raised in Illinois. After getting kicked out of a military academy, Brando moved to New York and studied acting under Stella Adler at Lee Strasberg's Actors Studio. The lessons definitely paid off: Brando is now one of the most highly regarded talents in the history of cinema, especially for his role as Don Corleone in "The Godfather."
Other notable actors: Raj Kapoor, Don Knotts
1925: Paul Newman
Date of birth: Jan. 26
Lest you forget the name Paul Newman, just hit up the nearest grocery store and you鈥檒l be reminded, where 鈥淣ewman鈥檚 Own鈥 food products (which donate all proceeds to charity) still grace the aisles. Of course, launching a line of popular food products is just one of Newman鈥檚 many achievements. In addition to being a philanthropist and movie star, the Ohio-born actor was also a director, producer, entrepreneur, and race car driver.
Other notable actors: Dick Van Dyke, Rock Hudson
1926: Andy Griffith
Date of birth: June 1
For over 50 years, actor Andy Griffith charmed millions of viewers with his laid-back, southern style. His two most iconic roles were as Sheriff Andy Jackson Taylor on 鈥淭he Andy Griffith Show,鈥 and as lawyer Ben Matlock in 鈥淢atlock.鈥 He passed away in 2012 at the age of 86.
Other notable actors: Jerry Lewis, Leslie Nielsen
1927: Roger Moore
Date of birth: Oct. 14
Most famous for his role as James Bond in the highly popular film series, Roger Moore鈥攑ardon us, Sir Roger Moore鈥攚as as active in international goodwill as he was in TV and film. In fact, the British actor was serving as an ambassador for UNICEF before he passed away in 2017. In other words, Moore wasn鈥檛 just a hero on screen.
Other notable actors: Peter Falk, Jerry Stiller
1928: Fred Rogers
Date of birth: March 20
His name was Fred Rogers, but the world knew him as Mr. Rogers, the super friendly TV host who educated and encouraged millions of children by way of his half-hour TV show, 鈥淢r. Rogers鈥 Neighborhood鈥. True to his cause, the multi-talented writer/producer/puppeteer/minister wrote essays on good parenting, and once testified emphatically before Congress on the importance of public television鈥攁nd that鈥檚 just skimming the surface of his legacy. Look for an upcoming documentary about Rogers in June, plus a biographical film starring Tom Hanks in 2019.
Other notable actors: Adam West, Martin Landau
1929: Christopher Plummer
Date of birth: Dec. 13
Born in Canada and classically trained as a stage actor, Christopher Plummer made his big screen debut in 1958's "Stage Struck." Seven years later, he would play Captain Von Trapp in "The Sound of Music," thereby cementing his status as Hollywood royalty. Despite all the fame and success "The Sound of Music" brought him, Plummer wasn't a fan; he often referred to it as "The Sound of Mucus." Plummer still acts in films to this day, having just famously replaced Kevin Spacey in Ridley Scott's 2017 thriller "All the Money in the World."
Other notable actors: Bob Newhart, Max von Sydow
1930: Sean Connery
Date of birth: Aug. 25
Playing James Bond to perfection is just one of Scotland-born actor Sean Connery鈥檚 many claims to fame. Even before he was a film star, Connery was turning heads in the as Mr. Scotland in the Mr. Universe contest. An illustrious career would follow, . These days, the 6鈥2鈥 actor mostly keeps to himself.
Other notable actors: Steve McQueen, Robert Wagner
1931: William Shatner
Date of birth: March 22
Boldly born in 1931, Canada's William Shatner before famously landing the role of Captain James T. Kirk on TV's 鈥淪tar Trek.鈥 Shatner would appear in multiple films鈥攁s well as release albums and help bring Priceline.com to the masses鈥攖hroughout the course of his career. However, audiences will remember him best as the original Captain of the USS Enterprise.
Other notable actors: James Dean, James Earl Jones
1932: Richard Dawson
Date of birth: Nov. 20
You wouldn't know it watching old reruns of 鈥淔amily Feud,鈥 but original host Richard Dawson (who spoke with an American accent) was born in Gosport, England. And before that, he played the role of Corporal Peter Newkirk on 鈥淗ogan's Heroes.鈥
Other notable actors: Peter O'Toole, Anthony Perkins
1933: Michael Caine
Date of birth: March 14
Before appearing in just about every Christopher Nolan film on the planet, actor Michael Caine enjoyed a long and formidable Hollywood career. He got 1956, but Caine still acts to this day, with a movie called 鈥淭he King of Thieves鈥 slated for release in late 2018.
Other notable actors: Gene Wilder, Tim Conway
1934: Alan Arkin
Date of birth: March 26
Brooklyn-born Alan Arkin was not only a semi-successful folk singer in the 1950s and 1960s, but he also a smash hit for Harry Belafonte. By the late 1960s, his career in acting had begun. It would ultimately land him more than , and earn him an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in 2007 for "Little Miss Sunshine."
Other notable actors: Jamie Farr, Bill Bixby
1935: Donald Sutherland
Date of birth: July 17
If you were born in the same year as Donald Sutherland, we certainly wouldn't blame you for not being able to keep up with the talented, Canadian-born actor. To put it another way, the man keeps busy at 82 years old; he currently stars in 鈥淭rust鈥 on FX Network and has a film slated for release in 2019. Proving that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, Donald鈥檚 son Kiefer is also a well-known Hollywood star.
Other notable actors: Dharmendra, Robert Conrad
1936: Robert Redford
Date of birth: Aug. 18
When not starring in movies, Robert Redford is directing and producing them, and when he's not doing that, he's creating film festivals, , and fighting for various environmental causes. Suffice to say, it all amounts to one truly accomplished career, with the , honors, and accolades to show for it.
Other notable actors: Burt Reynolds, Alan Alda
1937: Morgan Freeman
Date of birth: June 1
The man with the golden voice, Morgan Freeman, was born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1937. After , Freeman dove headfirst into acting鈥攖hough it wasn't until the late 1980s that he became a household name. Nowadays, Freeman is a bona fide fixture in Hollywood, thanks in no small part to his performances in iconic films like 鈥淭he Shawshank Redemption鈥 and 鈥淪e7en.鈥 Is Morgan Freeman more famous than Jack Nicholson, who was also born in 1937? Probably not. Nonetheless, the have spoken.
Other notable actors: Jack Nicholson, Bill Cosby
1938: Shashi Kapoor
Date of birth: March 18
More than one of Bollywood's most accomplished actors, Shashi Kapoor was a member of the Kapoor Dynasty, a family of performers, writers, and producers that have been part of India鈥檚 film industry since 1929. Known for his good looks and considerable talent, Kapoor appeared in over 150 films before passing away in Dec. 2017.
Other notable actors: Jon Voight, Christopher Lloyd
1939: Ian McKellen
Date of birth: May 25
While British actor Ian McKellen is no stranger to dramatic roles, younger audiences know him best as Magneto from the "X-Men" franchise, or Gandalf from "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Still landing parts like it's nobody's business, McKellen is also the subject of an upcoming documentary.
Other notable actors: Paul Hogan, John Cleese
1940: Bruce Lee
Date of birth: Nov. 27
Arguably the most famous (and some say the best) martial artist to ever live, Bruce Lee was born in San Francisco before moving to Hong Kong with his parents. There he studied under kung fu grandmaster Yip Man. Already a working child actor at the time, Lee would soon combine both those respective callings to legendary effect. After starring in 1973鈥檚 鈥淓nter the Dragon,鈥 Lee died suddenly from brain edema at the young age of 32.
Other notable actors: Al Pacino, Martin Sheen
1941: Nick Nolte
Date of birth: Feb. 8
Given Nick Nolte's proclivity to lie to the media, it鈥檚 tough to distinguish reality from fiction when covering his private life. Nevertheless, it鈥檚 a fact that the actor was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1941, and that he achieved massive success after starring opposite Eddie Murphy in 1982鈥檚 鈥48 Hrs.鈥 Meanwhile, his 2002 arrest mugshot remains the stuff of internet legend.
Other notable actors: Ryan O'Neal, David Warner
1942: Harrison Ford
Date of birth: July 13
Like a real-life Han Solo or Indiana Jones, Harrison Ford has rescued stranded hikers via helicopter, as well as narrowly avoiding death on more than one occasion. It鈥檚 no wonder that the Chicago-born actor has landed so many heroic roles over the years. Never one to rest on his laurels, Ford is currently attached to play Indy for the fifth time before hanging up the whip for good (though not necessarily retiring from acting).
Other notable actors: Billy Connolly, David Bradley
1943: Robert De Niro
Date of birth: Aug. 17
鈥淎re you talking to me?鈥 asked Robert De Niro as Travis Bickle in Martin Scorsese鈥檚 鈥淭axi Driver.鈥 Of course, that鈥檚 just one among many famous lines (and roles) from the seasoned star, who鈥檚 considered to be one of the greatest actors of all time. A true New Yorker, De Niro was born in the Big Apple in 1943, and still lives there to this day.
Other notable actors: Christopher Walken, Joe Pesci
1944: Sam Elliott
Date of birth: Aug. 9
Born in New Jersey to actor Kirk Douglas, Michael Douglas is arguably best known for his role as ruthless businessman Gordon Gekko in 1987's "Wall Street." The performance won Douglas his one and only Best Actor Oscar, though he did win a previous Oscar in 1976 for producing "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest". Douglas shares his birth year with Danny DeVito, and they also have a shared history鈥攖he two starred in films like "Romancing the Stone" and "War of the Roses," and they were also roommates at acting school in New York City.
Other notable actors: Michael Douglas, Danny DeVito
1945: Tom Selleck
Date of birth: Jan. 29
While it鈥檚 hard to picture actor Tom Selleck without his iconic mustache, one has to assume he came into this world 鈥榮tache-free in 1945. 35 years later, he landed the role of a private detective in 鈥淢agnum, P.I.,鈥 which ran for eight seasons. These days, you can catch Selleck in the hit CBS police drama 鈥淏lue Bloods.鈥
Other notable actors: John Heard, John Lithgow
1946: Sylvester Stallone
Date of birth: July 6
New York City-born Sylvester Stallone cleaned lion cages at the Central Park Zoo and even appeared in an adult film before writing and starring in 1976鈥檚 鈥淩ocky鈥濃攖he tale of a small-time Philadelphia boxer who鈥檚 spontaneously given a shot at the heavyweight title. The film was nominated for a whopping nine Academy Awards, winning three of them鈥攊ncluding Best Picture. Like his own character, Stallone became an overnight sensation, starring in a string of 鈥淩ocky鈥 sequels as well as other films like 鈥淔irst Blood,鈥 鈥淒emolition Man,鈥 and 鈥淭he Expendables.鈥 Rumor has it that he might star in an upcoming fifth 鈥淩ambo鈥 film, which is quite impressive for a 71-year-old man.
Other notable actors: Tim Curry, Alan Rickman
1947: Arnold Schwarzenegger
Date of birth: July 30
Born in Austria, Arnold Schwarzenegger was a world-class bodybuilder before hitting it big as a Hollywood actor. As if appearing in films like 鈥淭he Terminator鈥 and 鈥淧redator鈥 wasn鈥檛 enough, he hit the pause button on his acting career to become California's 38th governor. Still cutting a muscular figure at the age of 70, Schwarzenegger will reprise his most iconic role in an upcoming 鈥淭erminator鈥 movie.
Other notable actors: Ted Danson, James Woods
1948: Samuel L. Jackson
Date of birth: Dec. 21
One of the hardest working men in show business, Samuel L. Jackson was born in Washington, D.C., and raised by his grandmother in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He currently has over 100 completed acting credits to his name, not to mention a . He鈥檚 also the highest-grossing actor of all time, with his movies earning a combined total of more than $7.2 billion at the box office.
Other notable actors: John Ritter, Jeremy Irons
1949: Richard Gere
Date of birth: Aug. 31
Is Richard Gere the most famous actor born in 1949? Or is Jeff Bridges more worthy of the title? It's a tough call, but Gere鈥攚ho was a perennial leading man from 1982 to 2002鈥攎ight take a slight edge, if only for his lead role in 1990's "Pretty Woman." On the other hand, there are entire festivals built around 1998's "The Big Lebowski", which starred Jeff Bridges as "The Dude." Ultimately, both actors are famous, and if they're both the same age as you, take from that information what you will.
Other notable actors: Jeff Bridges, John Belushi
1950: Bill Murray
Date of birth: Sept. 21
Born in Evanston, Illinois, Bill Murray seemed destined for a life of mischief (and was even arrested at the age of 20) before he found his calling on stage in Chicago鈥檚 Second City improv group. After fine-tuning his persona on 鈥淪aturday Night Live,鈥 Murray became one of the foremost names in big-screen comedy, starring in movies like 鈥淕hostbusters,鈥 鈥淐addyshack,鈥 and 鈥淕roundhog Day.鈥 Murray still takes the occasional movie role, but only .
Other notable actors: David Cassidy, John Candy
1951: Robin Williams
Date of birth: July 21
Known for his ceaseless energy, laser-sharp wit, and legitimate acting chops, Chicago-born Robin Williams was one of Hollywood鈥檚 most consummate entertainers. His first major role came in the form of an alien named Mork鈥攚ho appeared on 鈥淗appy Days鈥 before getting a show of his own, 鈥淢ork & Mindy鈥. Soon after, Williams became a massive star on the big screen, while turning in the occasional stand-up performance. Sadly, Williams died of suicide in 2014.
Other notable actors: Kurt Russell, Mark Hamill
1952: Liam Neeson
Date of birth: Aug. 18
Seasoned actor Liam Neeson originally hails from Ballymena, the eighth largest town in Northern Ireland. It was to Ballymena that Neeson would return after leaving university, before giving theatre a serious go. After landing a role in John Boorman鈥檚 鈥淓xcalibur,鈥 Neeson moved to London and began appearing in numerous TV shows and films. Nowadays, he鈥檚 best known as a formidable action star, thanks primarily to his lead role in the 鈥淭aken鈥 franchise.
Other notable actors: Patrick Swayze, Steven Seagal
1953: Pierce Brosnan
Date of birth: May 16
Head south from Ballymena and you might find yourself in Drogheda, the birthplace of Pierce Brosnan. The suave actor and producer made a big name for himself in the 1980s as Ben Pearson on TV鈥檚 鈥淩emington Steele,鈥 and would later play James Bond in films like 鈥淕oldeneye鈥 and 鈥淭he World is Not Enough.鈥 Brosnan also fancies himself a painter, though don鈥檛 mistake his fine-tuned passion for some sort of vanity project. In fact, one of his paintings recently fetched $1.4 million at a charity auction.
Other notable actors: Tim Allen, John Malkovich
1954: Jackie Chan
Date of birth: April 7
Along with Chris Tucker, Chan formed one of the most lovable, eccentric crime-fighting duos in the history of cinema in all four installments of the "Rush Hour" franchise. Known for his mastery of hand-to-hand combat, the overwhelming majority of his feature films include a good number of fight scenes, with some of the more popular ones in recent years being the "Kung Fu Panda" series and Jaden Smith's "The Karate Kid" remake.
Other notable actors: John Travolta, Denzel Washington
1955: Rowan Atkinson
Date of birth: Jan. 6
Though Atkinson鈥檚 name has deservedly earned its place in the history of cinema, his face is almost more recognizable since it has become seemingly synonymous with his most famous character Mr. Bean, who was originally the subject of a self-titled television series in the early 90s and then transposed into movie format via 1997鈥檚 鈥淏ean.鈥 Atkinson is more than just his marquee character, though, and has held prominent roles in the likes of 鈥淭he Lion King鈥 and 鈥淜eeping Mum,鈥 portraying Zaza and Walter Goodfellow, respectively.
Other notable actors: Bill Paxton, Bruce Willis
1956: Tom Hanks
Date of birth: July 9
Arguably the world鈥檚 most likable actor, Tom Hanks was born on July 9, 1956, in Concord, California. His first big break came by way of a short-lived TV show called 鈥淏osom Buddies,鈥 however it was 1984鈥檚 鈥淪plash鈥 that truly launched his career鈥攁nd 1988鈥檚 鈥淏ig鈥 that cemented his A-list status. On the set of 鈥淰olunteers鈥 in 1985, Hanks felt an intense connection with co-star Rita Wilson, who would become his second wife and mother to two of his children. The couple is still married to this day.
Other notable actors: Mel Gibson, Bryan Cranston
1957: Daniel Day-Lewis
Date of birth: April 29
Screen legend Daniel Day-Lewis was born in the UK, though it hasn鈥檛 stopped him from tackling iconic American roles such as Abraham Lincoln to perfection. A staple in challenging and thought-provoking films, Lewis is widely considered one of the greatest actors of all time. He was last seen playing a dressmaker in Paul Thomas Anderson鈥檚 鈥淧hantom Thread,鈥 .
Other notable actors: Michael Clarke Duncan, Dolph Lundgren
1958: Gary Oldman
Date of birth: March 21
A truly acting chameleon, Gary Oldman first wowed mainstream audiences as Sex Pistols bandmate Sid Vicious in 1986鈥檚 鈥淪id and Nancy.鈥 From there, he tackled a number of different roles, earning heaps of praise for his impeccable versatility. In 1998, Oldman wrote and directed 鈥淣il by Mouth鈥 about working-class life in London. It was a subject near and dear to Oldman鈥檚 heart, as he himself had .
Other notable actors: Alec Baldwin, Kevin Bacon
1959: Sean Bean
Date of birth: April 17
If you're looking for a fantastic fantasy, look no further than Sean Bean. All of Bean's most notable appearances come in the form of mysterious, intensely action-packed films and television series such as "Game of Thrones," "The Lord of the Rings," and "Jupiter Ascending," each of which incorporate elements of adventure and heated conflict.
Other notable actors: Val Kilmer, Hugh Laurie
1960: Jean-Claude Van Damme
Date of birth: Oct. 18
Known for his muscular physique, Van Damme鈥檚 career was characterized by a handful of combat-heavy macho man pictures which garnered ticket sales not only by advertising his body but his martial arts skill set, as well. Van Damme鈥檚 father was hellbent on bulking up his son and training him to fight when he noticed that he was weak at 12 years old, and this ultimately propelled him to a career of starring in action films such as 鈥淒ouble Team,鈥 鈥淏loodsport,鈥 and 鈥淜ickboxer.鈥
Other notable actors: Sean Penn, Colin Firth
1961: George Clooney
Date of birth: May 6
If you were born in 1961, then you鈥檙e the same age as both George Clooney and Eddie Murphy, two certifiable A-list talents. Being that Murphy has been fairly inactive over the last decade, it鈥檚 actor, director, and Clooney making more headlines these days. Born in Lexington, Kentucky, Clooney struggled to make it big in the 1980s, appearing in campy films like 鈥淩eturn of the Killer Tomatoes.鈥 In 1994, he landed a career-shaping lead role on the hit medical drama 鈥淓R,鈥 and has been a top-shelf celebrity ever since. Fun fact: before starring in 鈥淓R,鈥 Clooney made his TV debut in a 1985 sitcom of the same name (鈥淓/R鈥 to be precise).
Other notable actors: Eddie Murphy, Woody Harrelson
1962: Tom Cruise
Date of birth: July 3
Born to an electrical engineer and special education teacher in Syracuse, Tom Cruise considered priesthood until he was reportedly kicked out of seminary school for stealing booze. Catholicism鈥檚 loss was the entertainment industry鈥檚 gain, as Cruise came to epitomize the concept of a Hollywood star. Nowadays, the actor is an institution unto himself, able to carry films from beginning to end while performing most of his own stunts to boot.
Other notable actors: Jim Carrey, Steve Carell
1963: Johnny Depp
Date of birth: June 9
Hmmmm鈥 who's the most famous actor born in 1963? Johnny Depp or Brad Pitt? According to , Depp got more searches over the past year, but that might have as much to do with his off-screen antics as it does his memorable performances. Nevertheless, Depp walks away with the honor. Born in Kentucky, the 54-year-old actor now has properties all over the world鈥攈e even owns both a .
Other notable actors: Brad Pitt, John Stamos
1964: Keanu Reeves
Date of birth: Sept. 2
Born in Beirut and raised in Toronto, actor Keanu Reeves rocketed to fame after starring as a lovable but spaced-out underachiever in 1989's "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure." A decade later, Reeves solidified his A-list status when he played prophetic hero Neo in "The Matrix." Still killing it as an action star to this day, Reeves recently appeared as assassin John Wick in two films of the same name. Meanwhile, he has quite the .
Other notable actors: Nicolas Cage, Rob Lowe
1965: Robert Downey Jr.
Date of birth: April 4
Stars don鈥檛 get much bigger than the Iron Man himself, Robert Downey Jr., who reportedly . Of course, before donning the high-tech suit, Downey Jr. was one of Hollywood鈥檚 most versatile and charismatic () talents, appearing in an array of films both big and small鈥攁nd earning numerous accolades in the process. Going back even further, he was born in Manhattan to writer/director/filmographer Robert Downey Sr. and actress Elsie Downey.
Other notable actors: Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan
1966: Adam Sandler
Date of birth: Sept. 9
Perennial goofball Adam Sandler was born in Brooklyn in 1966. After honing his craft on 鈥淪aturday Night Live,鈥 the actor kicked off a string of big-screen hits鈥攕tarting with 1995鈥檚 鈥淏illy Madison.鈥 While some say Sandler is capable of so much more than "Billy Madison," his success just keeps growing. Netflix (who currently has a deal with Sandler) claims that their subscribers have .
Other notable actors: Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Kiefer Sutherland
1967: Vin Diesel
Date of birth: July 18
He鈥檚 fast, he's furious, he was born in Alameda County, California and in New York鈥檚 Greenwich Village. His name is Mark Sinclair, but audiences know him best as Vin Diesel, the muscle-bound star of multiple action films. He鈥檒l be reprising just about every role he鈥檚 known for over the next fear years, and his fans aren't complaining.
Other notable actors: Jason Statham, Akshay Kumar
1968: Will Smith
Date of birth: Sept. 25
Just like the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Will Smith was born and raised in West Philadelphia. In addition to starring in the hit sitcom, he was half of the rap duo DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, who churned out hits like 鈥淧arents Just Don't Understand鈥 and 鈥淪ummertime.鈥 By the 1990s, Smith was among Hollywood's most bankable stars, headlining films like 鈥淏ad Boys,鈥 鈥淢en in Black,鈥 and 鈥淓nemy of the State.鈥 His next major role is as the genie in a live-action adaptation of 鈥淎laddin.鈥
Other notable actors: Hugh Jackman, Josh Brolin
1969: Matthew McConaughey
Date of birth: Nov. 4
Alright, alright, alright. So goes Matthew McConaughey from Uvalde, Texas, who delivers a laidback drawl so unique it might as well be patented. However, don't mistake that easy-going demeanor for a lack of passion, as the actor has been known to take on some truly challenging roles. That said, McConaughey did just finish (which, to be fair, was helmed by indie auteur Harmony Korine).
Other notable actors: Peter Dinklage, Matthew Perry
1970: Matt Damon
Date of birth: Oct. 8
Actor/writer Matt Damon was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and he would set his award-winning screenplay, 鈥淕ood Will Hunting鈥 in nearby Boston. It was thanks to that screenplay and Damon鈥檚 subsequent performance that the actor has a career to this day. In addition to acting and writing, Damon and collaborator Ben Affleck produced 鈥淧roject Greenlight,鈥 a reality show dedicated to discovering talented filmmakers.
Other notable actors: River Phoenix, Shemar Moore
1971: Mark Wahlberg
Date of birth: June 5
A true Boston native with the accent to show for it, Mark Wahlberg was a troubled teenager who . Determined to turn his life around, Wahlberg followed in the footsteps of his older brother Donnie, who had joined the boy band New Kids on the Block. The result was Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, a hip-hop group that yielded a handful of hit singles in the early 90s. Soon after that, Wahlberg launched a highly successful film career, which is still going fairly strong.
Other notable actors: Jared Leto, Corey Haim
1972: Dwayne Johnson
Date of birth: May 2
A former WWE wrestler turned Hollywood superstar (), Dwayne 鈥淭he Rock鈥 Johnson was born in Hayward, California in 1972. Before taking center stage on screens of all sizes, Johnson was a . In 2016, .
Other notable actors: Idris Elba, Ben Affleck
1973: Paul Walker
Date of birth: Sept. 12
Born in Glendale, California, actor Paul Walker would die in a . During his all-too-brief lifetime, Walker accomplished more than most. He was a lead star in 鈥淭he Fast and Furious鈥 franchise, and also received top billing in films like 鈥淓ight Below,鈥 鈥淛oy Ride,鈥 and 鈥淭he Skulls.鈥
Other notable actors: Jim Parsons, Neil Patrick Harris
1974: Leonardo DiCaprio
Date of birth: Nov. 11
Screen icon Leonardo DiCaprio grew up in Los Angeles and began acting in commercials and TV shows as early as age 5. However, it wasn't until he played the role of Arnie Grape in 1993's "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?" that the world began to recognize his considerable range. What soon followed is a career that most actors would dream of, and one that still conspicuously avoids franchise fare in favor of auteur-driven work.
Other notable actors: Christian Bale, Vijay Chandrasekhar
1975: Bradley Cooper
Date of birth: Jan. 5
Born in Philadelphia, Bradley Cooper before pursuing acting at the Actors Studio Drama School in NYC. It was there that Cooper regularly attended 鈥淚nside the Actors Studio鈥 tapings, where he鈥檇 ask questions to stars like Robert De Niro. Soon enough, Cooper was starring alongside De Niro in movies like 鈥淟imitless鈥 and 鈥淪ilver Linings Playbook.鈥
Other notable actors: Tobey Maguire, Russell Brand
1976: Ryan Reynolds
Date of birth: Oct. 23
Before stunning audiences as Deadpool in 2016 (and again in 2018), Ryan Reynolds had already forged himself a respectable A-list career in films like 鈥淭he Proposal,鈥 鈥淛ust Friends,鈥 鈥淒efinitely, Maybe,鈥 and 鈥淰an Wilder.鈥 Off-screen, he plays romantic lead to actress (and wife) Blake Lively, and was previously (briefly) married to Scarlett Johansson. Needless to say, the Canada-born actor does his fellow 41-year-olds proud.
Other notable actors: Benedict Cumberbatch, Jonathan Brandis
1977: Tom Hardy
Date of birth: Sept. 15
With the release of 鈥淰enom鈥 right around the corner, now is a good time to be its 40-year-old lead star, Tom Hardy. On the other hand, when is it not a good time to be Tom Hardy? The British actor has been steadily landing roles since 2001, when he appeared in Ridley Scott鈥檚 鈥淏lack Hawk Down;鈥 star-turning performances in movies like 鈥淲arrior鈥 and 鈥淭he Dark Knight Rises鈥 have further elevated his career.
Other notable actors: Chadwick Boseman, Michael Fassbender
1978: James Franco
Date of birth: April 19
In addition to being his birthplace, Palo Alto is also the title of James Franco's published collection of short stories. Meanwhile, publishing books is a mere hobby when compared to Franco's other endeavors鈥攕uch as directing and starring in award-winning films like 鈥淭he Disaster Artist,鈥 or appearing in episodes of HBO鈥檚 鈥淭he Deuce.鈥 To call him prolific would be an understatement.
Other notable actors: Ashton Kutcher, Andy Samberg
1979: Jason Momoa
Date of birth: Aug. 1
Honolulu, Hawaii's very own Jason Momoa has really come into his own in recent years with his big breakthrough coming in the form of the Dothraki king Khal Drogo in "Game of Thrones." Since then, he has earned an even bigger spotlight, having become the face of Aquaman in 2017's DC Comics release of "Justice League" and securing Aquaman's own personal feature film which is currently in post-production.
Other notable actors: Heath Ledger, Chris Pratt
1980: Ryan Gosling
Date of birth: Nov. 12
Having come a long way since his days in 鈥淭he Mickey Mouse Club,鈥 Canada鈥檚 Ryan Gosling burst onto the mainstream in 2004鈥檚 鈥淭he Notebook,鈥 also starring Rachel McAdams. From there, he would take on a number of challenging roles, broadening both his range and appeal in the process. Gosling was last seen on the big screen in 鈥淏lade Runner 2049,鈥 while his upcoming movie 鈥淔irst Man鈥 (made by 鈥淟a La Land鈥 helmer Damien Chazelle) is .
Other notable actors: Macaulay Culkin, Chris Pine
1981: Chris Evans
Date of birth: June 13
The son of a dentist and theater director, Chris Evans was born in Boston and raised in the nearby town of Sudbury. He caught the acting bug at a young age and . Little did Evans know at the time that he would one day be playing Captain America before an audience of millions.
Other notable actors: Tom Hiddleston, Hayden Christensen
1982: Jamie Dornan
Date of birth: May 1
America鈥檚 favorite sadist actually hails from Belfast, Northern Ireland, where he played rugby at a high level for many years before deciding he wanted to pursue a career in acting. In spite having been launched into the public eye by his depiction of the sex-crazed Christian Grey in the 鈥淔ifty Shades鈥 trilogy, he has also earned sizable roles in the likes of 鈥淎nthropoid鈥 and 鈥淭he Fall.鈥
Other notable actors: Eddie Redmayne, Seth Rogen
1983: Donald Glover
Date of birth: Sept. 25
Some folks might argue Chris Hemsworth is the most famous person born in 1983, however Donald Glover is definitely the man of the moment (and presumably many moments to come). That鈥檚 largely thanks to Glover鈥檚 acclaimed work on TV鈥檚 鈥淎tlanta鈥 and under his musical alias Childish Gambino鈥攚hose video for 鈥淭his is America鈥 riveted audiences worldwide. The multi-talented 34-year-old was born on an Air Force base and . Look for him in the latest 鈥淪tar Wars鈥 movie as Lando Calrissian or on tour performing his original songs.
Other notable actors: Chris Hemsworth, Adam Driver
1984: Theo James
Date of birth: Dec. 16
Best known for his role as Four in the "Divergent" series, actor Theo James (short for Theodore Peter James Kinnaird Taptiklis) was born in Oxford, England in 1984. The youngest of five children, Theo before entering drama school. When not acting, he sings and plays guitar, making him a 33-year-old of many talents.
Other notable actors: Bob Morley
1985: Dave Franco
Date of birth: June 12
While not as prolific or diversified as his older brother James, actor Dave Franco is nevertheless a genuine talent in his own right. Like James, Dave was born in Palo Alto, later making his big screen debut as Greg in the 2007 hit comedy 鈥淪uperbad.鈥 The two brothers recently starred together in 2017鈥檚 鈥淭he Disaster Artist.鈥
Other notable actors: Chace Crawford
1986: Shia LaBeouf
Date of birth: June 11
Famous for his on-screen roles and off-screen antics, Shia LaBeouf is a Los Angeles native who appeared in TV shows as early as the late 鈥90s鈥攃atching his big break in 2007鈥檚 鈥淭ransformers.鈥 Soon after, LaBeouf began consciously avoiding mainstream roles, and even His latest film 鈥淗oney Boy鈥 is currently in production; it was .
Other notable actors: Robert Pattinson, Drake Bell
1987: Zac Efron
Date of birth: Oct. 18
Between his good looks, solid song-and-dance moves, and effective acting chops, Zac Efron is a Hollywood dream come true. On the heels of his success in the 鈥淗igh School Musical鈥 franchise, Efron was offered a recording contract by Simon Cowell himself鈥攚hich he declined in order to focus on acting. In what's arguably his most challenging role to date, Efron plays serial killer Ted Bundy in the upcoming film,
Other notable actors: Michael B. Jordan, Evan Peters
1988: Rupert Grint
Date of birth: Aug. 24
With a name like Rupert Grint, it doesn't take a linguistics expert to wonder if the actor was born in the UK (Harlow to be exact). The 29-year-old talent rose to fame playing Ron Weasley in the 鈥淗arry Potter鈥 film series. After the series wrapped, Grint briefly considered quitting acting, but decided to stick it out, taking on roles in two different TV shows in 2017.
Other notable actors: Colton Haynes, King Bach
1989: Daniel Radcliffe
Date of birth: July 23
Being born the same year as Daniel Radcliffe doesn't mean you were born the same year as Harry Potter, but it's probably the next best thing. That said, the 28-year-old British actor has done a pretty good job at distancing himself from his most iconic role--Proving as much is 2016's "Swiss Army Man," .
Other notable actors: Carlos Pena Jr., Keegan Allen
1990: Bill Skarsg氓rd
Date of birth: Aug. 9
The son of actor Stellan Skarsg氓rd, Bill Skarsg氓rd was born in Stockholm, Sweden. He was best known for starring in 鈥淎llegiant鈥 until he tackled the role of Pennywise in the 2017 remake of Stephen King鈥檚 鈥淚t.鈥 Luckily for Skarsg氓rd, British actor .
Other notable actors: Liam Hemsworth, Thomas Brodie-Sangster
1991: Dylan O'Brien
Date of birth: Aug. 26
First , Dylan O'Brien became a big name in Hollywood after starring in MTV鈥檚 鈥淭een Wolf鈥 and then playing the lead in 鈥淭he Maze Runner鈥 franchise. O'Brien was born in New York City, and . Apparently, you can still see his old videos on YouTube, but only because he
Other notable actors: Tyler Posey, Austin Butler
1992: Cole Sprouse
Date of birth: Aug. 4
In what's probably disparaging news to his twin brother Dylan, Cole Sprouse is the most famous actor born in 1992. The two starred together in 鈥淭he Suite Life of Zack and Cody鈥 on the Disney Channel, before forging their own respective careers. Cole can currently be seen as Jughead Jones on the show 鈥淩iverdale.鈥
Other notable actors: Josh Hutcherson, Taylor Lautner
1993: Cameron Monaghan
Date of birth: Aug. 16
Cameron Monaghan was born in Santa Monica in 1993, and he started . By the early 2000s, Monaghan was making regular guest appearances on TV, eventually landing the recurring role of Ian Gallagher in Showtime's 鈥淪hameless.鈥 He currently has five films in various stages of production or development.
Other notable actors: James Fraser, Troy Gentile
1994: Ansel Elgort
Date of birth: March 14
Singer, DJ, and star of the "Divergent" series, Ansel Elgort was born in Manhattan, New York. His father was a , and they both encouraged Elgort to pursue acting. More than a consummate entertainer, Elgort is also a big movie fan. In fact, he has .
Other notable actors: Jordan Fisher, Booboo Stewart
1995: Nick Robinson
Date of birth: March 22
Seattle-born Nick Robinson was a series regular on TV鈥檚 鈥淢elissa & Joey鈥 before getting a film of his own with 2018鈥檚 鈥淟ove, Simon.鈥 He鈥檚 also played important roles in films like 鈥淭he 5th Wave鈥 and 鈥淛urassic World.鈥 The , Robinson stands just over six feet tall, and makes for one sharp-looking 23-year-old.
Other notable actors: Ross Lynch
1996: Tom Holland
Date of birth: June 1
Like something out of his wildest dreams, British actor Tom Holland didn't just land the role of 鈥淪pider-Man鈥 in 2016鈥攈e recently . Before that, he appeared on stage as Billy Elliot in a London production of the musical from 2008 to 2010. While Holland has up to five films currently in production, most of his fans are gearing up for the 鈥淪pider-Man鈥 sequel, which is set to drop in 2019.
Other notable actors: Jack Griffo
1997: KJ Apa
Date of birth: June 17
His name is Kenati James Fitzgerald, but audiences know him best as KJ Apa, star of 鈥淩iverdale鈥 on The CW. Born in Auckland, New Zealand, before moving to the states to pursue his dreams. You can find him on the big screen later this year in 鈥淭he Hate U Give鈥.
Other notable actors: Asa Butterfield, Leo Howard
1998: Jaden Smith
Date of birth: July 8
At just 19 years of age, Jaden Smith has accomplished a lifetime鈥檚 worth of career goals. Since 2003, the young talent has been appearing on screens of all sizes, dropping albums, , and tweeting out to millions of followers. Does it help that he's the son of Hollywood stars Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith? You bet it does. Nevertheless, he's duly proved himself as a creative force to be reckoned with.
Other notable actors: Dylan Sprayberry, Bradley Steven Perry
1999: Cameron Boyce
Date of birth: May 28
Born in Los Angeles, Cameron Boyce appeared in films like "Mirrors" and "Eagle Eye" before becoming a mainstay on the Disney Channel. His biggest claim to fame so far is playing the role of Carlos in the "Descendants" movies; the third iteration is slated for release in 2019.
Other notable actors: Chandler Riggs, Ethan Cutkosky
2000: Jace Norman
Date of birth: March 21
Best known as Henry Hart (aka Kid Danger) on the Nickelodeon series 鈥淗enry Danger,鈥 Jace Norman was born in Corrales, New Mexico just 18 years ago. Demonstrating an early knack for showmanship, he and his brother . On his path to fame, he overcame numerous obstacles, .
Other notable actors: Griffin Gluck
2001: Caleb McLaughlin
Date of birth: Oct. 13
Actor Caleb McLaughlin was just 10 years old when he made his Broadway debut as young Simba in 鈥淭he Lion King鈥; today he's better known for his role as Lucas Sinclair on the Netflix hit series 鈥淪tranger Things鈥. Born in Carmel, New York, Caleb and his family eventually moved to New York City, .
Other notable actors: Joshua Rush, Milo Manheim
2002: Finn Wolfhard
Date of birth: Dec. 23
Also hailing 鈥淪tranger Things鈥 as well as 鈥淚t,鈥 Canada's Finn Wolfhard is a formidable guitar player in addition to being one of Hollywood's hottest young talents. In fact, his indie band, Calpurnia, . Not bad for a 15-year-old!
Other notable actors: Gaten Matarazzo, Asher Angel
2003: Jaeden Lieberher
Date of birth: Jan. 4
When most of us were learning cursive for the first time, Jaeden Lieberher was starring alongside names like Bill Murray in 2014鈥檚 鈥淪t. Vincent鈥 and 2015鈥檚 鈥淎loha.鈥 In the time since, the Philadelphia-born actor has made steady appearances on the big screen, including a lead role in 2017 horror flick 鈥淚t鈥.
Other notable actors: Jack Dylan Grazer, Wyatt Oleff
2004: Noah Schnapp
Date of birth: Oct. 3
Between his impressive portfolio (which includes a lead role in "Stranger Things") and his , Noah Schnapp is the stuff that modern Hollywood dreams are made of. Born in New York in 2004, the young actor has already worked with the likes of Steven Spielberg in 2015's "Bridge of Spies"鈥攁nd he was also the voice of Charlie Brown in 2015's "The Peanuts Movie."
Other notable actors: Mace Coronel
2005: Noah Jupe
Date of birth: Feb. 25
Born in London, Noah Jupe most recently garnered attention for his role in the 2018 surprise hit 鈥淎 Quiet Place.鈥 Next up for the actor is a Sherlock Holmes adaptation, and then as 鈥攁 harrowing drama based on Shia LaBeouf鈥檚 personal boyhood experiences.
Other notable actors: Nathan Arenas, Issac Ryan Brown