HistoryData

Famous Birthdays on August 21

11 notable people were born on August 21.

August 21 is the birth date of eleven notable individuals in various fields such as economics, politics, and entertainment. Nobel Prize-winning economist Leonid Hurwicz was born in 1917, former Ecuadorian President Gustavo Noboa in 1937, and acclaimed Australian film director Peter Weir in 1944. Other personalities include French cultural figure Frédéric Mitterrand, born in 1947, and Armenian Catholicos Karekin II, born in 1951.

20th Century11 people

Mohammed VI of Morocco

Mohammed VI of Morocco

1963

Current King of Morocco who ascended to the throne in 1999 following the death of his father Hassan II. He has implemented constitutional reforms and modernization initiatives during his reign of over two decades.

entrepreneurkingmilitary leaderMorocco
Leonid Hurwicz

Leonid Hurwicz

1917 – 2008

Polish-American economist who shared the 2007 Nobel Prize in Economics for developing mechanism design theory, which analyzes economic institutions and markets.

economistmathematicianuniversity teacherPoland
Peter Weir

Peter Weir

1944

Australian film director acclaimed for atmospheric dramas including Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975), Gallipoli (1981), and The Truman Show (1998). His films are known for their haunting visual style and exploration of mystery and isolation.

directorfilm directorscreenwriterAustralia
Paetongtarn Shinawatra

Paetongtarn Shinawatra

1986

Current Prime Minister of Thailand since 2024 and daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

businesspersonpoliticianThailand
Robert Lewandowski

Robert Lewandowski

1988

Polish striker who captains the national team and has scored over 600 career goals while playing for clubs including Bayern Munich and Barcelona.

association football playerPoland
Carrie-Anne Moss

Carrie-Anne Moss

1967

Canadian actress best known for playing Trinity in The Matrix film trilogy.

actorfilm actorfilm producerCanada
Frédéric Mitterrand

Frédéric Mitterrand

1947 – 2024

French cultural figure who served as Minister of Culture and Communication from 2009 to 2012, and was also known as a television presenter, filmmaker, and writer.

documentarianfilm actorfilm criticFrance
Usain Bolt

Usain Bolt

1986

Jamaican sprinter who holds world records in the 100m (9.58s) and 200m (19.19s), widely considered the fastest human in history. He won eight Olympic gold medals across three Games from 2008 to 2016.

athletics competitorJamaica
Sofyan Amrabat

Sofyan Amrabat

1996

Dutch-born defensive midfielder who represents Morocco internationally and plays for Manchester United. He was a crucial player in Morocco's 2022 World Cup campaign and their run to the semi-finals.

association football playerMorocco
Gustavo Noboa

Gustavo Noboa

1937 – 2021

Academic and politician who assumed the presidency of Ecuador from 2000 to 2003 following a military coup, focusing on economic stabilization during his term.

politicianEcuador
Karekin II

Karekin II

1951

Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians since 1999, serving as the spiritual leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church worldwide.

bishopArmenia

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the most famous person born on August 21?
Peter Weir, an Australian film director known for movies like "Dead Poets Society" and "The Truman Show," is among the notable people born on August 21, 1944. Other figures include Nobel Prize-winning economist Leonid Hurwicz and former Ecuadorian President Gustavo Noboa.
Are there any world leaders born on August 21?
Yes, Gustavo Noboa, who was President of Ecuador from 2000 to 2003, was born on August 21, 1937. Karekin II, the current Catholicos of All Armenians and head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, was also born on this date in 1951.
What Nobel Prize winner was born on August 21?
Leonid Hurwicz, born on August 21, 1917, received the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 2007 for his work in mechanism design theory. He was a founding figure in this field within economics and game theory.