21 historically significant individuals born on December 31. December 31 is the birth date of 13 notable individuals from various backgrounds, including the arts, politics, and sports. Prominent figures born on this day include French artist Henri Matisse (1869), Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum (1898), Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (1935), Welsh actor Anthony Hopkins (1937), and Scottish football manager Alex Ferguson (1941). These individuals have made contributions in visual arts, music, leadership, cinema, and athletics.
Total Born
21
Countries
15
Top Century
20th· 12
Top Field
actor
4 individuals
Headline Figures
scientist
George C. Marshall
1880 – 1959Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Peace (1953)
scientist
Avram Hershko
1937 – PresentNobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2004)
art theorist
Henri Matisse
1869 – 1954French artist and leader of the Fauvism movement known for his bold use of color and innovative contributions to modern art.
Birth Distribution by Century
20th (12)
19th (4)
-1th C.20th C.
20th Century
12Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Avram Hershko
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2004)
Junot Díaz
novelistscience fiction writer
Dominican-American author who won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for his novel The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao.
Gong Li
actorfilm actor
Chinese actress who gained international fame starring in Zhang Yimou's films including Red Sorghum and Raise the Red Lantern during the 1990s. She became one of the first Chinese actors to achieve global recognition and has appeared in both Asian and Hollywood productions.
Edvin Kanka Ćudić
human rights defenderjournalist
Bosnian human rights activist, journalist, and martial artist who advocates for LGBTI+ rights and social justice causes.
Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
monarchpolitician
King of Saudi Arabia since 2015 and father of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, overseeing the Vision 2030 reform program.
Alex Ferguson
association football coachassociation football player
Football manager who led Manchester United for 26 years (1986-2013), winning 13 Premier League titles and 2 UEFA Champions League trophies.
Anthony Hopkins
directorfilm actor
Welsh actor who won the Academy Award for Best Actor for playing Hannibal Lecter in 'The Silence of the Lambs' (1991).
Psy
actorchoreographer
South Korean rapper and singer who achieved global fame with his viral hit "Gangnam Style," which became the first YouTube video to reach one billion views.
Aliaksandra Herasimenia
swimmer
Olympic swimmer who won silver medals at the 2012 Olympics and became an opposition activist following the 2020 Belarusian protests.
Barbara Carrera
actorfilm actor
Nicaraguan-American actress and model who appeared in films including Bond movie 'Never Say Never Again' and TV series 'Dallas.' She was born in 1945.
AK
Amir Karić
association football coachassociation football player
Slovenian midfielder who played for various clubs in Slovenia and neighboring countries during his professional career. He earned caps for Slovenia's national team and later moved into football coaching and management roles.
AM
Ahmad Mohammad Hasher Al Maktoum
sport shooter
Olympic sport shooter who won the UAE's first Olympic medal, a gold in double trap shooting at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
19th Century
4Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
George C. Marshall
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Peace (1953)
Henri Matisse
art theoristdraftsperson
French artist and leader of the Fauvism movement known for his bold use of color and innovative contributions to modern art.
Umm Kulthum
actorfilm actor
Legendary Egyptian singer known as "The Star of the East" who dominated Arabic music for over four decades with her powerful voice and emotional performances.
Junqueira Freire
autobiographerpoet
Brazilian poet and essayist
18th Century
3Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Johann Hermann
botanistnaturalist
French physician, zoologist and botanist (1738–1800)
Michel Ferdinand d'Albert d'Ailly
astronomermarshal
French astronomer (1714–1769)
Joseph Gardner Swift
engineersoldier
Superintendent of the United States Military Academy (1783-1865)
15th Century
1Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Lê Thái Tông
monarch
Vietnamese emperor
-1th Century
1Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Cicero
ancient Roman priestjurist
Roman statesman, lawyer, orator, and philosopher (106–43 BC)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the most famous person born on December 31?
Anthony Hopkins, the Oscar-winning Welsh actor famous for his role as Hannibal Lecter, is considered the most famous person born on December 31. Other notable births on this date include French artist Henri Matisse and Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum.
What celebrities have birthdays on New Year's Eve?
Several celebrities have birthdays on December 31, including Anthony Hopkins, soccer manager Alex Ferguson, and King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia. This date also includes the birth of artist Henri Matisse and singer Umm Kulthum.
Are there any famous artists born on December 31?
Henri Matisse, the French artist known for leading the Fauvism movement, was born on December 31, 1869. Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum, often called the 'Star of the East' and one of the most celebrated Arabic singers, was born on this date in 1898.