Celebrity Birthdays - August

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.

Kristen Wiig can turn an ordinary trip to Target, a surprise party, a wedding, or a perfectly respectable musical performance into a social emergency within minutes. After becoming one of Saturday Night Live's most versatile performers, she carried that fearless comedy into Bridesmaids, movies, television, and animation, proving that embarrassment becomes considerably more enjoyable when Kristen Wiig is experiencing it on our behalf.

August 22, 1973, in Canandaigua, New York

Trivia

• Before pursuing acting, she studied art at the University of Arizona and considered a career involving medical illustration.
• Wiig developed her sketch-comedy skills with The Groundlings in Los Angeles.
• She joined Saturday Night Live in 2005 and remained a regular cast member until 2012.
• Her memorable SNL characters include Target Lady, Penelope, Gilly, Dooneese, Sue, and Aunt Linda.
• Wiig and Annie Mumolo received an Academy Award nomination for writing Bridesmaids.
• She voiced Lucy Wilde in the Despicable Me franchise and Ruffnut in the How to Train Your Dragon films.

John Stamos has spent decades demonstrating that excellent hair, a leather jacket and an Elvis Presley impression can apparently constitute a remarkably sound retirement plan. Best remembered as the motorcycle-riding, guitar-playing Uncle Jesse on Full House, Stamos somehow made living in your brother-in-law's attic look glamorous. Yet there is considerably more to his career than “Have mercy!” He has been a soap-opera heartthrob, sitcom star, dramatic actor, Broadway performer, producer and musician—and he has actually played drums with The Beach Boys.

August 19, 1963, in Cypress, California

Trivia

• His breakthrough role was Blackie Parrish on General Hospital, beginning in 1982.
• Stamos asked that Uncle Jesse's surname on Full House be changed from Cochran to Katsopolis to acknowledge his Greek heritage.
• He is an accomplished drummer and has performed with The Beach Boys since the 1980s.
• Stamos played J. Pierrepont Finch on Broadway in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying in 1995.
• He appeared in 193 episodes of Full House between 1987 and 1995.
• Elvis Presley is one of Stamos's longtime musical favorites, something repeatedly incorporated into Uncle Jesse's personality on Full House.
• Stamos returned as Uncle Jesse for Fuller House and also worked as a producer on the revival.

Aaron Paul became internationally famous playing Jesse Pinkman, a young man whose career choices could generously be described as catastrophically poor. Fortunately, Paul's own decisions worked out rather better. His emotionally raw performance in Breaking Bad turned what could have been a supporting character into one of television's most memorable figures, earned him three Primetime Emmy Awards and ensured that the word "bitch" would never again sound quite the same coming from anyone else.

August 27, 1979, in Emmett, Idaho

Trivia

• His father was a Baptist minister.
• Jesse Pinkman was originally supposed to die early.
• Paul won three Emmys for playing Jesse.
• He voiced Todd Chavez in BoJack Horseman.
• Bryan Cranston is his son's godfather.

Claude Debussy took centuries of musical rules, examined them carefully, and apparently decided that several were merely suggestions. With shimmering harmonies, unexpected scales, drifting rhythms, and enough moonlight and water to keep painters jealous, he transformed classical music and left later composers wondering why nobody had thought of making an orchestra behave like that before.

August 22, 1862, in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France

March 25, 1918, in Paris, France

Trivia

• Debussy entered the Paris Conservatoire at only 10 years old.
• He won the prestigious Prix de Rome in 1884 with L'Enfant prodigue.
• Hearing Javanese gamelan at the 1889 Paris Exposition helped broaden his ideas about rhythm, scales, and musical structure.
• Although routinely called an Impressionist composer, Debussy himself disliked the label.
• Pelléas et Mélisande was his only completed opera and made him famous after its 1902 premiere.
• He dedicated Children's Corner to his daughter Claude-Emma, affectionately called Chouchou.
• Debussy wrote music criticism under the fictional persona Monsieur Croche, using it to express some decidedly sharp opinions about the musical establishment.

Demi Lovato has been performing professionally since childhood, which means most people were still figuring out homework while Lovato was already accumulating television credits. From Barney & Friends and Disney Channel stardom to Camp Rock, chart-topping albums, major pop hits and a career that has repeatedly reinvented itself, Lovato has spent more than two decades in the public eye. That is an impressive amount of show business before you even consider the microphones, movie sets, concert tours and enough hair-color changes to keep a salon permanently occupied.

August 20, 1992, in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Trivia

• One of Lovato's earliest professional roles was Angela on Barney & Friends.
• Lovato's breakthrough movie role was Mitchie Torres in Camp Rock.
• The 2009 album Here We Go Again became Lovato's first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200.
• Lovato served as a judge on The X Factor USA for two seasons.
• Lovato performed the U.S. national anthem at Super Bowl LIV in 2020.

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.

Some basketball players ease into the NBA. Anthony Edwards looked at that idea, shrugged, and decided that highlights were a better introduction. Whether he's throwing down a thunderous dunk, draining a deep three-pointer, or delivering one of his famously entertaining interviews, Edwards has a remarkable talent for making the extraordinary look routine. Opposing defenders have learned an important lesson: if Anthony Edwards starts smiling, someone is probably about to end up on a highlight reel.

August 5, 2001, in Atlanta, Georgia

Trivia

• Drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
• Played one season at the University of Georgia.
• Won SEC Freshman of the Year.
• Named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
• Multiple-time NBA All-Star.
• Earned All-NBA honors.
• Nicknamed "Ant."
• Wears No. 5 in honor of his late mother and grandmother.
• Originally excelled in football before choosing basketball.
• Known for spectacular dunks and highlight-reel plays.

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.

Sharon Osbourne is the only woman alive who could manage Ozzy, raise kids on camera, survive reality TV and daytime talk shows, and still make time to scold Simon Cowell. She’s like your no-nonsense aunt who shows up in couture, drops truth bombs over cocktails, and leaves you emotionally wrecked—but also inspired. If life is a rock concert, Sharon’s the one backstage making sure the amps don’t explode… unless it would make for good ratings.

October 9, 1952, in London, England

Trivia

• Dog Obsessed: Sharon’s pack of Pomeranians has rivaled Ozzy in TV appearances. Some of them probably have better agents.
• Memoir Maven: She’s written multiple bestsellers, including Extreme, which details her wild life in music, marriage, and motherhood.
• Health Warrior: A colon cancer survivor, Sharon has been an outspoken advocate for cancer awareness and prevention.
• No Filter Club: Known for unflinching honesty, she’s been both praised and criticized—but never ignored. She calls it like she sees it, and if you don’t like it… duck.

Chris O’Dowd is the kind of actor who can make you laugh at your own misery and thank him for the privilege. He’s got that friendly-Irish-bloke energy that convinces you he’s just popped over for tea, then somehow ropes you into a heartfelt conversation about life’s big questions. If Hollywood ever needs a leading man who can fix your printer and your love life, they’ve got O’Dowd on speed dial.

October 9, 1979, in Boyle, County Roscommon, Ireland

Trivia

• Boyle Pride: His hometown of Boyle, Ireland, is so proud of him that they’ve incorporated him into local tourism campaigns.
• Sports to Screen: Originally studied politics and sociology at University College Dublin, where he also played Gaelic football before focusing on acting.
• Literary Turn: Co-authored a best-selling children’s book series, Moone Boy, based on his semi-autobiographical TV series of the same name.
• Award-Winner: Has earned accolades on both sides of the Atlantic, from BAFTA recognition to Broadway honors.

Tom Skerritt has spent more than six decades playing the sort of man you'd trust to command a spaceship, run a small-town sheriff's department or teach you to fly a fighter jet—which is unfortunate, because Alien suggests the spaceship assignment may require further consideration. With that unmistakable voice and weathered authority, Skerritt became one of Hollywood's most dependable actors without ever needing to make much noise about it.

August 25, 1933, in Detroit, Michigan 

October 21, 2026, in Seattle, Washington

Trivia

• Tom served four years in the U.S. Air Force.
• His film debut was War Hunt in 1962.
• He played Captain Dallas in Alien.
• He was Commander “Viper” Metcalf in Top Gun.
• Picket Fences earned him a Primetime Emmy.
• He helped establish a storytelling program for veterans.

Madelaine Petsch was born with naturally red hair, learned to perform almost as soon as she learned to walk, and eventually landed the role of Cheryl Blossom, a character who could make entering a room look like a hostile corporate takeover. Best known for Riverdale, Petsch has since moved comfortably between television, thrillers, horror films, producing, fashion, and social media. Along the way, she has demonstrated that the girl wearing the most red in the room may also be the person with the best idea of where her career is going.

August 18, 1994, in Port Orchard, Washington

Trivia

• Her parents are South African, and she spent part of her childhood in South Africa.
• She speaks Afrikaans.
• Petsch has wanted to become an actress since she was about three years old.
• Before her acting career took off, she supported herself in Los Angeles by working as a barista.
• Her famous red hair is natural, despite the number of people who apparently remain suspicious of it.
• She was raised vegetarian and became vegan as a teenager.

James Gunn has made a highly successful career out of gathering misfits, handing them dangerous weapons, giving one of them a deeply questionable personality, and somehow turning the resulting chaos into an emotional family drama. He transformed a talking raccoon and a walking tree into international movie stars, persuaded audiences to care about a giant alien starfish, and then accepted responsibility for the entire DC Universe. Most people would have asked for a quieter office job. Gunn apparently looked at decades of complicated superhero history and said, “Yes, I’ll sort that out.”

August 5, 1966, in St. Louis, Missouri

Trivia

• Began his filmmaking career with Troma Entertainment.
• Wrote the screenplay for Tromeo and Juliet.
• Wrote the live-action Scooby-Doo movie.
• Wrote Zack Snyder’s remake of Dawn of the Dead.
• Made his feature directing debut with Slither.
• Directed the dark superhero comedy Super.
• Wrote and directed all three Guardians of the Galaxy films.
• Selected many of the songs used in the Guardians soundtracks.
• Wrote and directed DC’s The Suicide Squad.

If Hollywood ever held auditions for "effortlessly cool," Michael Ealy would probably show up ten minutes late, apologize with a smile, and still get the part. Blessed with movie-star looks, enough charisma to power a small city, and those famously unforgettable blue eyes, he's spent years convincing audiences he's either the perfect boyfriend, the perfect hero, or the last person you should trust. That's quite a résumé for one pair of eyeballs.

August 3, 1973, in Silver Spring, Maryland

Trivia

• Graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park.
• His birth name is Michael Brown.
• Began his career performing in off-Broadway productions.
• Broke through in Barbershop (2002).
• Played Slap Jack in 2 Fast 2 Furious.
• Starred as Dominic in Think Like a Man and its sequel.
• Earned a Golden Globe nomination for Sleeper Cell.
• Played the android Dorian in Almost Human.
• Starred opposite Sanaa Lathan in The Perfect Guy.
• Married entrepreneur Khatira Rafiqzada in 2012.
• Is known for keeping his personal life remarkably private.

Stephen McKinley Henderson spent decades becoming one of America's most respected stage actors before Hollywood audiences finally caught up, proving that there is no expiration date on being exceptionally good at your job. From August Wilson's Fences to the enormous science-fiction world of Dune, Henderson has the wonderful ability to walk quietly into a scene and somehow make everybody else seem considerably noisier.

August 31, 1949, in Kansas City, Missouri

Trivia

• Henderson studied at Juilliard.
• He became closely associated with August Wilson's plays.
• He played Jim Bono in Fences.
• Henderson portrayed Thufir Hawat in Dune.
• He taught theater at the University at Buffalo.
• He has received multiple Tony Award nominations.

Casey could read a grocery list and make you cry halfway through “eggs.” He’s the human equivalent of a slow-burn candle — you don’t notice him at first, but suddenly he’s set the entire emotional atmosphere, and now you’re rethinking your life choices.

August 12, 1975, in Falmouth, Massachusetts

Trivia

• Oscar Winner: Best Actor for Manchester by the Sea (2016).
• Indie Darling: Known for quiet, intense performances.
• Breakthrough: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.
• Early Days: Appeared in Good Will Hunting and the Ocean’s trilogy.
• Hidden Talent: Can make awkward pauses feel like Shakespeare.

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.

Swimming is one of those sports where victory is often measured in hundredths of a second. Blink at the wrong moment and you might miss history being made. Fortunately for the rest of us, Simone Manuel made such a splash that nobody had any trouble noticing. She didn't just race to the finish line—she helped rewrite the history books while inspiring an entirely new generation of swimmers to jump into the pool.

August 2, 1996, in Houston, Texas

Trivia

• Competed for Stanford University.
• Won multiple NCAA individual championships.
• Made history at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
• Became the first Black American woman to win an individual Olympic gold medal in swimming.
• Won gold in the 100-meter freestyle.
• Captured Olympic relay gold in the 4×100-meter medley relay.
• Has earned multiple World Aquatics Championships medals.
• Specializes primarily in freestyle events.
• Represented Team USA in multiple international competitions.
• Publicly discussed her experience with Overtraining Syndrome.
• Advocates for diversity and inclusion in swimming.

Some actors spend years trying to convince audiences they belong in a hospital drama. Jesse Williams spent over a decade making millions of viewers believe he could perform life-saving surgery, all while somehow keeping his hair perfectly in place during emergencies. Television doctors may not write real prescriptions, but if charisma could lower blood pressure, Dr. Jackson Avery would have been one of Grey Sloan Memorial's most effective treatments.

August 5, 1981, in Chicago, Illinois

Trivia

• Graduated from Temple University.
• Worked as a high school teacher before acting.
• Played Dr. Jackson Avery on Grey's Anatomy for over a decade.
• Founded the production company farWord Inc.
• Made his Broadway debut in Take Me Out.
• Earned a Tony Award nomination for his Broadway performance.
• Appeared in The Cabin in the Woods.
• Played Rev. James Lawson in Lee Daniels' The Butler.
• Received the BET Humanitarian Award in 2016.

If Cecil B. DeMille directed your life, your morning coffee would involve a cast of thousands, a full orchestra, and at least three wardrobe changes before lunch. And yes — it would still come in over budget.

August 12, 1881, in Ashfield, Massachusetts

January 21, 1959, in Hollywood, California,

Trivia

• Pioneer: Co-directed Hollywood’s first feature-length film, The Squaw Man.
• Double Feature: Directed two versions of The Ten Commandments.
• Oscar Winner: Best Picture for The Greatest Show on Earth (1952).
• Master of Spectacle: Known for lavish biblical and historical epics.
• Hollywood Royalty: One of the founding members of Paramount Pictures.