Celebrity Birthdays - August

Jennifer Lawrence became one of Hollywood's biggest stars by combining serious dramatic talent with the remarkable ability to behave as though being a movie star is slightly ridiculous. She has battled dystopian governments, played a shape-shifting mutant, collected an Academy Award, worked with some of Hollywood's most respected directors and tripped on the stairs while going to accept the biggest prize in acting. Most people would prefer that last part be forgotten. Lawrence turned it into another reason audiences liked her.

August 15, 1990, in Indian Hills, Kentucky

Trivia

• She did not attend drama school before beginning her professional acting career.
• She received her first Academy Award nomination at age 20 for Winter's Bone.
• Lawrence won Best Actress for Silver Linings Playbook when she was 22.
• She famously tripped on the stairs while going to accept that Oscar.
• She received four Academy Award acting nominations by the age of 25.
• Lawrence played Mystique in four X-Men films.
• She trained extensively in archery for her role as Katniss Everdeen.

John Mulaney has turned nervous energy, immaculate suits, childhood embarrassment and the peculiar behavior of ordinary people into a remarkably successful career. He helped create one of Saturday Night Live's strangest recurring characters, became one of America's leading stand-up comedians and somehow made stories about doctors, horses and childhood detectives sound like matters of national importance.

August 26, 1982, in Chicago, Illinois

Trivia

• John graduated from Georgetown University.
• He joined SNL as a writer in 2008.
• He helped create Bill Hader's Stefon.
• He voices Andrew on Big Mouth.
• He voiced Spider-Ham in Spider-Verse.

Tom Ford is the sort of man who can apparently look at a suit, a perfume bottle, a fashion house or an entire motion picture and decide that it simply isn't elegant enough yet. Born in Texas and armed with formidable ambition, an obsession with detail and an apparently lifelong disagreement with untidy things, Ford helped transform Gucci into a global powerhouse before putting his own name on a luxury empire and then casually wandering into Hollywood to become an acclaimed film director.

August 27, 1961, in Austin, Texas

Trivia

• He originally studied architecture.
• He joined Gucci in 1990.
• Became Gucci Creative Director in 1994.
• He founded his own brand in 2005.
• A Single Man was his directorial debut.
• He chaired the CFDA beginning in 2019.

Marlee Matlin began her movie career by winning the Academy Award for Best Actress, apparently deciding that easing into Hollywood was unnecessary. From Children of a Lesser God to The West Wing and CODA, she has spent decades proving that talent doesn't require sound—and neither does a thoroughly impressive career.

August 24, 1965, in Morton Grove, Illinois

Trivia

• She became deaf at 18 months old.
• She began acting at seven.
• Her first movie was Children of a Lesser God.
• She won an Oscar for that debut performance.
• She was 21 when she won Best Actress.
• She competed on Dancing with the Stars.

Merritt Wever is living proof that you don’t have to shout to be heard — sometimes all it takes is a perfectly timed pause, a sideways glance, and the kind of delivery that makes every other actor in the room wonder why they even bothered learning their lines.

August 11, 1980, in New York City

Trivia

• Double Emmy Winner: Nurse Jackie (2013) and Godless (2018).
• Award Speech Legend: Her 2013 Emmy speech was just 11 words long.
• Genre-Hopping: From comedy to gritty drama with ease.
• Stage Roots: Studied at Sarah Lawrence College and honed her craft in theater.
• Reluctant Star: Known for her private, press-shy personality.

Napoleon Bonaparte was a French artillery officer who apparently looked at the political chaos following the French Revolution and thought, “I can organize this.” He then reorganized France, defeated armies across Europe, crowned himself emperor, rearranged national borders, placed relatives on thrones, invaded Russia, escaped from exile, became emperor again, lost at Waterloo and was sent to an island so remote that returning for another round was finally impractical. For a man whose name became synonymous with ambition, Napoleon certainly made excellent use of his 51 years.

August 15, 1769, in Ajaccio, Corsica

May 5, 1821 at Longwood, on the Atlantic island of Saint Helena

Trivia

• He trained as an artillery officer, a technical specialty that strongly influenced his approach to warfare.
• The Rosetta Stone was discovered during Napoleon's Egyptian expedition, although Napoleon himself did not discover it.
• He crowned himself Emperor of the French in 1804.
• Napoleon escaped his first exile on Elba and regained control of France without having to fight his way to Paris.
• His final period in power became known as the Hundred Days.
• Despite the enduring stereotype, Napoleon was not extraordinarily short for a man of his time.

Dawnn Lewis is the kind of performer who could sing the phone book, voice the phone, and then star in a sitcom about the phone’s life — and you’d watch every single episode. If talent were a college course, she’d be the professor, the textbook, and the school anthem, all rolled into one.

August 13, 1961, in Brooklyn, New York

Trivia

• Sitcom Star: Jaleesa Vinson-Taylor on A Different World.
• Theme Song Queen: Co-wrote and sang A Different World’s theme.
• Voice Acting Royalty: Futurama, The Proud Family, and more.
• Philanthropist: Founded A New Day Foundation.
• Stage Work: Broadway credits include The Tap Dance Kid and Sister Act.

Some actors spend years searching for the role of a lifetime. Sam Worthington found one that required him to become a towering blue alien, ride flying creatures, and save an entire planet. It's safe to say that most workplace dress codes don't prepare you for that. Still, if someone offered you a trip to Pandora, you'd probably ask where to park rather than whether the job came with health insurance.

August 2, 1976, in Godalming, England

Trivia

• Graduated from Australia's National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA).
• Starred as Jake Sully in James Cameron's Avatar franchise.
• Avatar became one of the highest-grossing films in history.
• Returned as Jake Sully in Avatar: The Way of Water.
• Played Perseus in Clash of the Titans and Wrath of the Titans.
• Appeared in the acclaimed war film Hacksaw Ridge.
• Starred in Everest, based on the 1996 Mount Everest disaster.
• Played a major role in Under the Banner of Heaven.
• Known for performing physically demanding action roles.

Kobe Bryant spent 20 seasons proving that basketball hoops apparently become considerably larger when the game is on the line. With five NBA championships, 18 All-Star selections, an 81-point game and one of the fiercest competitive reputations in sports, Bryant turned difficult shots into ordinary business and ordinary shots into something he occasionally considered too easy. His relentless approach became known as the “Mamba Mentality,” which sounds considerably more impressive than “refusing to quit until everybody else has gone home.”

August 23, 1978, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

January 26, 2020, in Calabasas, California

Trivia

• Kobe entered the NBA directly from high school at age 17.
• Charlotte drafted him 13th overall before trading him to the Lakers.
• He won the 1997 NBA Slam Dunk Contest as a rookie.
• Bryant scored 81 points against Toronto in 2006.
• The Lakers retired both his No. 8 and No. 24 jerseys.
• He won Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012.
• Dear Basketball won an Academy Award in 2018.

Annie Oakley became one of the most famous sharpshooters in American history without carrying herself like the swaggering gunslinger Hollywood would later associate with the Old West. She was small, modestly dressed, remarkably disciplined and capable of performing feats with a firearm that left audiences wondering whether somebody ought to check the laws of physics.

August 13, 1860, in Darke County, Ohio

Greenville, Ohio, on November 3, 1926

Trivia

• Oakley joined Buffalo Bill's Wild West in 1885.
• Sitting Bull called her "Little Sure Shot."
• She performed for audiences throughout the United States and Europe.
• She appeared during Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee celebrations.
• Oakley could shoot targets while using a mirror.
• She famously shot playing cards.
• Shooting cigarettes from a person's mouth became one of her exhibition tricks.
• She encouraged women to learn marksmanship.

Imagine accepting a television role that was supposed to last a season or two, only to find yourself stranded on a mysterious island with smoke monsters, polar bears, and millions of devoted fans trying to solve every plot twist. Evangeline Lilly handled all of that with remarkable composure before trading deserted beaches for a superhero suit and proving that saving the universe is just another day at the office.

August 3, 1979, in Fort Saskatchewan, Canada

Trivia

• Studied International Relations at the University of British Columbia.
• Worked as a flight attendant before becoming an actress.
• Rose to international fame as Kate Austen in Lost.
• Appeared in all six seasons of Lost.
• Played Tauriel in The Hobbit film trilogy.
• Portrays Hope van Dyne/The Wasp in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
• Co-starred with Paul Rudd in the Ant-Man films.
• Authored the children's book series The Squickerwonkers.
• Has participated in humanitarian and charitable work around the world.

Blair Underwood has spent decades playing lawyers, doctors, detectives, executives and assorted men who clearly own better suits than the rest of us. From his breakthrough on L.A. Law to Broadway, film and prestige television, Underwood has built a career on intelligence, versatility and enough screen presence to make entering a conference room look like an event.

August 25, 1964, in Tacoma, Washington

Trivia

• His father was a U.S. Army colonel.
• He studied drama at Carnegie Mellon.
• L.A. Law made him a television star.
• He appeared in Spielberg's Amistad.
• He played Dr. Robert Leeds on Sex and the City.
• He portrayed Lash on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
• A Soldier's Play earned him a Tony nomination.

LaKeith is the guy who could walk into your house unannounced, borrow your toaster, explain the meaning of life, and then leave you wondering if any of it actually happened — and you’d thank him for the experience.

August 12, 1991, in San Bernardino, California

Trivia

• Breakout Role: Short Term 12 (2013).
• TV Hit: Darius in Atlanta.
• Horror Landmark: Played Andre Logan King in Get Out.
• Award Recognition: Oscar-nominated for Judas and the Black Messiah.
• Genre Jumper: Moves effortlessly between comedy, drama, and surrealism.

Lil Yachty sailed into hip-hop calling himself Lil Boat, sporting bright red braids and making music that sounded as though somebody had mixed Atlanta rap, Saturday-morning cartoons and a bag of brightly colored candy in the same recording studio. Then, just when everyone thought they had him figured out, he started experimenting with psychedelic rock, alternative music and live instrumentation. Apparently nobody told Yachty that musicians are supposed to remain conveniently inside the little genre box provided for them.

August 23, 1997, in Mableton, Georgia

Trivia

• His real name is Miles Parks McCollum.
• He is also known as Lil Boat.
• “Minnesota” helped launch his career in 2015.
• “One Night” became his breakthrough platinum hit.
• “Broccoli” earned him a Grammy nomination.
• He briefly attended Alabama State University.
• Let's Start Here embraced psychedelic rock.

Life has a funny way of changing careers. One day you're memorizing courtroom dialogue for a television drama, and the next you're learning centuries-old royal traditions, attending state events, and discovering that every hat you wear will be analyzed by someone, somewhere. Meghan Markle's journey from Hollywood actress to Duchess of Sussex is one of the most talked-about life stories of the twenty-first century, proving that sometimes the most unexpected plot twists happen off-screen.

August 4, 1981, in Los Angeles, California

Trivia

• Graduated from Northwestern University.
• Studied theater and international studies.
• Interned at the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires.
• Played Rachel Zane on Suits for seven seasons.
• Former editor of the lifestyle website The Tig.
• Married Prince Harry in 2018.
• Became the Duchess of Sussex upon marriage.
• Mother of Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
• Co-founded the Archewell Foundation.
• Has worked extensively with charitable organizations.

Steve Martin has spent more than half a century making it very difficult to decide what occupation to put beside his name. Comedian? Certainly. Actor? Absolutely. Writer? Several shelves' worth. Musician? Grammy-winning, thank you very much. Playwright, producer, art collector and television creator? Apparently the man has never encountered a lane he felt obliged to remain in. He once became one of America's biggest stand-up comedians while wearing a white suit, playing a banjo and pretending to be considerably more foolish than he actually was, then walked away from stand-up near the height of his fame because he'd decided he'd done enough. Most performers spend their lives trying to become Steve Martin. Steve Martin has spent his life repeatedly deciding to become somebody else.

August 14, 1945, in Waco, Texas

Trivia

• Martin learned magic long before he became famous as a comedian.
• He also practiced juggling during his early performing years.
• Martin learned banjo partly by slowing records down so he could identify individual notes.
• He studied philosophy at California State University, Long Beach, before transferring to UCLA.
• His interest in philosophy influenced the deliberately illogical structure of his early comedy.
• Martin considered becoming a professor before entertainment took over.
• He won an Emmy as a television writer years before becoming a famous stand-up comedian.
• His early writing work included The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.
• Martin was never an official Saturday Night Live cast member despite becoming closely associated with the show.
• His white stand-up suit was deliberately chosen so audiences in large venues could see his physical movements more easily.

If you ever find yourself stranded on a deserted island and see Jason Momoa walking out of the ocean carrying a trident, don't panic. He's probably just between movie roles. Few actors have mastered the art of looking equally convincing as a fearless warrior, an underwater king, a motorcycle enthusiast, and the friendliest giant at a comic convention. Behind the impressive beard and action-hero physique is a remarkably down-to-earth performer whose sense of humor is almost as legendary as his screen presence.

August 1, 1979, in Honolulu, Hawaii

Trivia

• Won Hawaii's Model of the Year in 1999.
• Made his acting debut in Baywatch Hawaii.
• Played Ronon Dex in Stargate Atlantis.
• Became internationally famous as Khal Drogo in Game of Thrones.
• Starred as Aquaman (Arthur Curry) in the DC film universe
• Appeared as Duncan Idaho in Dune.
• Is an avid motorcycle collector and enthusiast.
• Passionately supports ocean conservation and environmental causes.
• Has directed and produced several independent projects.
• Is known for performing many of his own physical action scenes.

Macaulay Culkin became one of the world's biggest movie stars before he was old enough to drive, largely by defeating two burglars with paint cans, Micro Machines and a spectacular disregard for household safety. Home Alone made him an international phenomenon, but Culkin's story became far more interesting once Kevin McCallister finally stopped being left behind.

August 26, 1980, in New York City

Trivia

• Macaulay began acting at about four years old.
• Uncle Buck preceded his Home Alone breakthrough.
• He earned a Golden Globe nomination for Home Alone.
• He appeared in Michael Jackson's "Black or White" video.
• He fronted the comedy band The Pizza Underground.
• His brother Kieran is also an acclaimed actor.
• He received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 2023.

Andrew Garfield has accomplished something particularly difficult in Hollywood: he played Spider-Man, survived the tights, survived the internet arguing about which Spider-Man was best, and emerged with an acclaimed dramatic career firmly intact. From swinging between Manhattan skyscrapers to portraying a conscientious objector who saved wounded soldiers without carrying a weapon, Garfield has demonstrated a remarkable ability to move between blockbuster spectacle and deeply emotional drama. And just when everyone thought his web-slinging days were safely behind him, he returned and reminded audiences that apparently no Spider-Man ever really gets to retire.

August 20, 1983, in Los Angeles, California

Trivia

• He holds British and American citizenship.
• Before concentrating on acting, Garfield was interested in gymnastics and swimming
• He appeared in two episodes of Doctor Who before becoming internationally famous.
• Garfield won a BAFTA Television Award for his performance in Boy A.
• He received Academy Award nominations for Hacksaw Ridge and tick, tick... BOOM!
• Garfield won a Tony Award for playing Prior Walter in Angels in America on Broadway.
• He was a Spider-Man fan as a child, years before being cast as Peter Parker.

Kim Cattrall had already survived Police Academy, chased supernatural trouble through Big Trouble in Little China, fallen in love while pretending to be a mannequin and joined the crew of the Enterprise before Samantha Jones came along. Then Sex and the City made her internationally famous as the woman who could turn an uncomfortable brunch conversation into an Olympic event—and usually deliver the funniest line while doing it.

August 21, 1956, in Liverpool, England

Trivia

• Kim studied at both the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
• Her film debut came in director Otto Preminger's Rosebud in 1975.
• Before Sex and the City, she appeared in three enduring 1980s favorites: Police Academy, Big Trouble in Little China and Mannequin.
• Cattrall played the Vulcan officer Lieutenant Valeris in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.
• She received five Emmy nominations for playing Samantha Jones.
• Cattrall won a Golden Globe in 2003 for her performance in Sex and the City.
• Nearly two decades after the original series ended, she made a brief return as Samantha in And Just Like That... in 2023.

Brenton Thwaites is the kind of hero who could rescue you from a sinking ship, then apologize for getting your shoes wet. He’s got that rare mix of action-star toughness and “guy next door” likability—which is probably why even the ghost pirates in Pirates of the Caribbean didn’t seem to hate him all that much.

August 10, 1989, in Cairns, Queensland, Australia

Trivia

• Nature Boy: Raised in Cairns, surrounded by the Great Barrier Reef and lush rainforests—basically the perfect training ground for adventure roles.
• Prince Mode: Played Prince Phillip in Maleficent opposite Angelina Jolie.
• Comic Book Cred: Has been playing Dick Grayson/Nightwing in Titans since 2018, proving he can pull off leather armor and emotional depth at the same time.
• Surf’s Up: Grew up surfing, because of course he did—he’s Australian.