# People famous for doing the same thing who were born on the same date **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 22, 2011, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-famous-for-doing-the-same-thing-who-were-born-on-the-same-date/575606 "2011-03-22T14:30:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-famous-for-doing-the-same-thing-who-were-born-on-the-same-date/575606/1 "2011-03-22T14:30:23Z")
I start this thread today in honor of Stephen Sondheim (born March 22, 1930) and Andrew Lloyd Webber (born March 22, 1948). Happy Birthday to two commposers who changed and enriched the theatre! Monkees Michael Nesmith and Davy Jones were both born on December 30th (1942 & 1945 respectively). Family Ties’s parents Meredith Baxter and Michael Gross were borth born on the same day: June 21, 1947. Any others? ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-famous-for-doing-the-same-thing-who-were-born-on-the-same-date/575606/2 "2011-03-22T20:03:17Z")
Does really close count? Paul McCartney born 6-18-42 Brian Wilson born 6-20-42 . ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-famous-for-doing-the-same-thing-who-were-born-on-the-same-date/575606/3 "2011-03-22T20:29:11Z")
Sorry this doesn’t actually fit the topic, but I’m sure someone will mention it, so I might as well be the one… … John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on the same day – July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. (On his deathbed, Adams reportedly said, “Thomas Jefferson survives”, not knowing that Jefferson had in fact passed away hours earlier.) ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-famous-for-doing-the-same-thing-who-were-born-on-the-same-date/575606/4 "2011-03-22T20:40:23Z")
There’s [Lech Kaczyński](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lech_Kaczy%C5%84ski) (president of Poland, 2005-2010) and [Jarosław Kaczyński](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaros%C5%82aw_Kaczy%C5%84ski) (prime minister of Poland, 2006-2007), who were born on the same day, 18 June 1949. Does that count? (They were identical twins, so being born on the same day was not a coincidence.) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-famous-for-doing-the-same-thing-who-were-born-on-the-same-date/575606/5 "2011-03-22T21:00:33Z")
Entertainers Bette Midler and Woody Allen were born the same day (Dec. 01), ten years apart. You might say they don’t have much in common, but they co-starred as husband and wife in 1991’s **scenes from a Mall**. (And I was born ten years to the day after Midler. But I haven’t been in a movie with either one of them.) ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-famous-for-doing-the-same-thing-who-were-born-on-the-same-date/575606/6 "2011-03-22T21:14:03Z")
William Shakespeare and Miguel De Cervantes were both born April 23. (Shakey died that day too) (then many years later I was born) Edit: Damn…the both died that day…I was mislead my whole life until just now. Well that sucks ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-famous-for-doing-the-same-thing-who-were-born-on-the-same-date/575606/7 "2011-03-22T21:20:46Z")
James Joyce and Ayn Rand were both born on my birthday, Groundhog’s Day. So were pinups Farrah Fawcett and Christie Brinkley ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-famous-for-doing-the-same-thing-who-were-born-on-the-same-date/575606/8 "2011-03-22T21:32:44Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > William Shakespeare and Miguel De Cervantes were both born April 23. > > (Shakey died that day too) > > … > > Edit: Damn…the both died that day…I was mislead my whole life until just now. Well that sucks They both died on April 23, 1616, but they did not die on the same day. Spain had adopted the Gregorian calendar, while England was still on the Julian calendar ---
**Author:** ![mcgato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@mcgato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mcgato)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-famous-for-doing-the-same-thing-who-were-born-on-the-same-date/575606/9 "2011-03-22T23:03:52Z")
Elvis Presley and David Bowie were both born on January 8. ---
**Author:** ![Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellis_Aponte_Jr)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-famous-for-doing-the-same-thing-who-were-born-on-the-same-date/575606/10 "2011-03-23T00:05:46Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Entertainers Bette Midler and Woody Allen were born the same day (Dec. 01), ten years apart. You might say they don’t have much in common, but they co-starred as husband and wife in 1991’s **scenes from a Mall**. It goes deeper than that. December 1 is the birthday of comedians. Richard Pryor and Sarah Silverman were also born on that day. ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-famous-for-doing-the-same-thing-who-were-born-on-the-same-date/575606/11 "2011-03-23T00:21:31Z")
April 28th is the birthday of a number of actors whose commonality is that you may not know them by name, when you see their picture or hear their most well-known role, you say “oh, right, I know them!” - Marcia Strassman (Mrs. Kotter on “Welcome Back, Kotter”) - Bruno Kirby (Billy Crystal’s best friend in “When Harry Met Sally” and “City Slickers”) - Mary McDonnell (Laura Roslin on “Battlestar Galactica”) - Kari Wuhrer (the redheaded prize girl on “Remote Control” on MTV) - Jorge Garcia (Hurley on “Lost”) - Elisabeth Rohm (Serena Sutherland, the lesbian ADA on “Law & Order”) - Jenna Ushkowitz (Tina Cohen-Chang the Asian Jewish girl on “Glee”) And then there are the ones born that day who are are as well known (if not better known) for their looks as their talents, Penelope Cruz, Bridget Moynahan and Jessica Alba. (Of that bunch, Garcia & Rohm were born the very same day, and coincidentally, the same day as yours truly.) ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-famous-for-doing-the-same-thing-who-were-born-on-the-same-date/575606/12 "2011-03-23T00:48:48Z")
Trent Reznor and I share the same birthday, May 17 (he’s 1 year older), and we’re both singer-songwriters, multi-instrumentalists, and composers. Except I’m not famous for any of that. Dammit. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-famous-for-doing-the-same-thing-who-were-born-on-the-same-date/575606/13 "2011-03-23T01:16:25Z")
Craig Ferguson and Bob Saget were both born on May 17th (1962 and 1956 respectively). They are also close friends, apparently. ETA: And Trent Reznor and **Mister Rik** too! I should try reading with my eyes open some day. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Obeseus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbce88/32.png) [@Obeseus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Obeseus)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-famous-for-doing-the-same-thing-who-were-born-on-the-same-date/575606/14 "2011-03-23T01:18:04Z")
May 27 – Vincent Price (1911) & Christopher Lee (1922.) Peter Cushing missed by a day – May 26, 1913. Baseball stars Jeff Bagwell & Frank Thomas were both born May 27, 1968. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-famous-for-doing-the-same-thing-who-were-born-on-the-same-date/575606/15 "2011-03-23T01:29:50Z")
Two of jazz’s pioneer reed players share the birthday May 30: Frank Trumbauer, saxophone (1901), and Benny Goodman, clarinet (1909). Two of the biggest name swing bandleaders were born on succeeding days in 1904: Jimmy Dorsey (Feb. 29) and Glenn Miller (March 1). Tram and BG worked together only infrequently, but Glenn and JD both were in the Dorsey Bros. Orchestra in the mid 30s, as well as sharing many recording dates. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-famous-for-doing-the-same-thing-who-were-born-on-the-same-date/575606/16 "2011-03-23T01:55:40Z")
Howard Stern and Rush Limbaugh both born on Jan 12th. Limbaugh is 3 years older. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-famous-for-doing-the-same-thing-who-were-born-on-the-same-date/575606/17 "2011-03-23T02:16:27Z")
> [@cjepson](#): > > Sorry this doesn’t actually fit the topic, but I’m sure someone will mention it, so I might as well be the one… > > … John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on the same day – July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. (On his deathbed, Adams reportedly said, “Thomas Jefferson survives”, not knowing that Jefferson had in fact passed away hours earlier.) Yup, that’s what first came to mind when I saw the thread title. One of my favorite factoids. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-famous-for-doing-the-same-thing-who-were-born-on-the-same-date/575606/18 "2011-03-23T18:16:31Z")
Referring to my entry of Paul McCartney and Brian Wilson having been born within two days of each other- are there any examples of peoplefamousfordoingthesamething who were born on exactly the same date? The very same day? . ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-famous-for-doing-the-same-thing-who-were-born-on-the-same-date/575606/19 "2011-03-23T18:18:02Z")
As I mentioned in the OP: Family Ties’s parents Meredith Baxter and Michael Gross were both born on the same day: June 21, 1947. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-famous-for-doing-the-same-thing-who-were-born-on-the-same-date/575606/20 "2011-03-23T18:21:13Z")
So, my example in #4 above, of the president and prime minister of Poland being born on the same day isn’t close enough to doing the same job? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-famous-for-doing-the-same-thing-who-were-born-on-the-same-date/575606.md?page=2)