HistoryData

Famous Birthdays on April 15

19 notable people were born on April 15.

April 15 is the birth date of several notable individuals, such as Émile Durkheim, a French sociologist born in 1858, and Johannes Stark, a German physicist and Nobel Prize winner born in 1874. In 1907, Dutch biologist Niko Tinbergen was born on this day. It is also the birth date of Kim Il-sung, who founded North Korea in 1912, and Richard von Weizsäcker, a former President of West Germany, born in 1920. These individuals contributed to fields like sociology, physics, biology, and political leadership in various eras and regions.

19th Century2 people

Émile Durkheim

Émile Durkheim

1858 – 1917

French sociologist who established sociology as an academic discipline and conducted pioneering studies on suicide, religion, and social solidarity.

anthropologisthistorian of religionphilosopherFrance
Johannes Stark

Johannes Stark

1874 – 1957

German physicist who won the 1919 Nobel Prize in Physics for discovering the Stark effect in spectral lines. His work demonstrated the splitting of spectral lines in electric fields, supporting quantum theory.

physicistuniversity teacherGermany

20th Century17 people

Alla Pugacheva

Alla Pugacheva

1949

Soviet-Russian pop singer who became the most successful recording artist in Russian history with over 250 million records sold. She dominated Soviet popular music for decades and is known as the 'Queen of Russian Pop.'

directorpedagoguepresenterRussia
Claudia Cardinale

Claudia Cardinale

1938 – 2025

Italian-born French actress who became an international star in the 1960s, appearing in classic films like 'The Leopard' and '8½' alongside legendary directors.

actorfilm actorstage actorFrance
Richard von Weizsäcker

Richard von Weizsäcker

1920 – 2015

German politician who served as President of Germany from 1984 to 1994. He played a crucial role in German reunification and was known for his moral leadership during the transition period.

lawyermilitary personnelpoliticianGermany
Albert Riera

Albert Riera

1982

Spanish winger who played for Liverpool, Espanyol, and other European clubs, later transitioning into coaching roles.

association football coachassociation football playerSpain
Seth Rogen

Seth Rogen

1982

Canadian actor, comedian, and filmmaker known for his roles in "Superbad," "Pineapple Express," and "This Is the End," which he also co-wrote and co-directed.

directorfilm actorfilm directorCanada
Emma Watson

Emma Watson

1990

English actress who gained worldwide fame playing Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter film series. She has since become a prominent advocate for gender equality and women's rights as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador.

activistfashion modelfilm actorUnited Kingdom
Niko Tinbergen

Niko Tinbergen

1907 – 1988

Dutch ethologist who shared the 1973 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his pioneering studies of animal behavior and instinct patterns.

biologistethologistornithologistNetherlands
Philippe of Belgium

Philippe of Belgium

1960

King of the Belgians since 2013, having succeeded his father Albert II after serving as a military officer and diplomat.

military officermonarchNoiraudBelgium
Tomas Tranströmer

Tomas Tranströmer

1931 – 2015

Swedish poet who won the 2011 Nobel Prize in Literature for his condensed, translucent images that give access to reality.

linguistpoetpsychologistSweden

Kim Il-sung

1912 – 1994

Founding leader and first Supreme Leader of North Korea from 1948 to 1994, establishing the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the hereditary Kim dynasty.

politicianNorth Korea
Joice Mujuru

Joice Mujuru

1955

Former Vice President of Zimbabwe (2004-2014) and liberation war veteran who was dismissed by Robert Mugabe and later formed the opposition Zimbabwe People First party.

ministerpoliticianZimbabwe
Michael Ansara

Michael Ansara

1922 – 2013

American stage, screen, and voice actor (1922–2013)

actorfilm actorstage actorUnited States
Kunishige Kamamoto

Kunishige Kamamoto

1944 – 2025

Japanese striker who scored 75 goals in 84 international matches and later served as a politician after his football career ended.

association football coachassociation football playerpoliticianJapan
Jaime Paz Zamora

Jaime Paz Zamora

1939

Political scientist who served as President of Bolivia from 1989 to 1993, leading a coalition government and promoting democratic consolidation.

political scientistpoliticianBolivia
Beata Szydło

Beata Szydło

1963

Polish politician who served as Prime Minister from 2015 to 2017 under the Law and Justice party and later became a Member of the European Parliament.

ethnologistpoliticianPoland
Nawal El Moutawakel

Nawal El Moutawakel

1962

Former Moroccan hurdler who became the first African woman to win an Olympic gold medal in track and field at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. She later served as an International Olympic Committee member and sports administrator.

athletics competitorpoliticianMorocco
Vigdís Finnbogadóttir

Vigdís Finnbogadóttir

1930

Icelandic politician who became the world's first democratically elected female president when she served as Iceland's 4th President from 1980 to 1996. She was also a prominent advocate for women's rights and Icelandic language preservation.

politicianIceland

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the most famous person born on April 15?
Kim Il-sung, the founder and first leader of North Korea, was born on April 15, 1912. His leadership shaped the nation and influences global politics.
Are there any Nobel Prize winners born on April 15?
Yes, two Nobel Prize winners share this birthdate: Johannes Stark received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1919, and Niko Tinbergen earned the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1973. Both contributed significantly to their scientific fields.
What famous sociologist was born on April 15?
Émile Durkheim, a key figure in modern sociology, was born on April 15, 1858. He is known for his work on social theory and helping establish sociology as an academic discipline.