22 historically significant individuals born on September 12. September 12 is the birth date of several notable individuals across various fields. Some of the most prominent include Nobel Prize-winning chemist Irène Joliot-Curie (1897), science fiction author Stanisław Lem (1921), Nobel laureate chemist Akira Suzuki (1930), film composer Hans Zimmer (1957), and Iraqi politician Barham Salih (1960). They have each contributed to their respective areas through scientific research, literature, music, and politics.
Total Born
22
Countries
13
Top Century
20th· 19
Top Field
scientist
3 individuals
Headline Figures
Birth Distribution by Century
20th (19)
12th C.20th C.
20th Century
19Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Joachim Frank
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2017)
Harvey J. Alter
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (2020)
Richard H. Thaler
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (2017)
Nassim Nicholas Taleb
economistessayist
Lebanese-American author and former options trader best known for his books 'The Black Swan' and 'Antifragile,' which explore uncertainty and risk in complex systems.
Mylène Farmer
children's writerlyricist
French pop icon known for theatrical performances and hit albums like "Désenchantée," selling over 30 million records worldwide.
Hans Zimmer
composerfilm score composer
German film composer who has scored over 150 films including 'The Lion King,' 'Gladiator,' and 'Inception'. He has won two Academy Awards and revolutionized film music with his electronic-orchestral fusion style.
AR
Avijit Roy
activistbiomedical engineer
Bangladeshi-American engineer and blogger who founded the Mukto-Mona rationalist blog promoting secular humanism and science. He was hacked to death in Dhaka in 2015 by Islamic extremists for his atheist writings.
Anousheh Ansari
astronautastronomer
Iranian-American engineer and entrepreneur who became the first female private space explorer and first Iranian in space aboard a Soyuz mission to the International Space Station in 2006.
Yaroslava Shvedova
tennis player
Professional tennis player who reached a career-high singles ranking of No. 25 and won multiple WTA titles during her career.
Yūto Nagatomo
association football player
Japanese left-back who played for Inter Milan and Galatasaray during a successful European career. He earned over 150 caps for Japan, making him one of their most capped players.
Akira Suzuki
chemistprofessor
Japanese chemist (1930 - )
Carlos Chagas Filho
biologistneuroscientist
Brazilian physician and biologist (1910–2000)
Dino Merlin
singer
Bosnia's most acclaimed pop singer and composer, known for hits like 'Godinama' and representing Bosnia at Eurovision 1999.
Stanisław Lem
essayistphilosopher
Polish science fiction author best known for novels like 'Solaris' and 'The Cyberiad' that explore philosophical questions about technology, consciousness, and alien intelligence.
Barham Salih
politician
Kurdish politician who served as President of Iraq from 2018 to 2022 and previously held senior positions in the Kurdistan Regional Government. He played a significant role in Iraqi Kurdish politics for over two decades.
Júnior Díaz
association football player
Left-back who represented Costa Rica in the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, helping the team reach the quarterfinals in Brazil. He played professionally in Europe and MLS.
Oleg Pashinin
association football coachassociation football player
Former Uzbekistan national team footballer who played as a defender and later transitioned to coaching. He represented his country in international competitions during the 1990s and 2000s.
Louis C.K.
cabaret performerdancer
American comedian, actor, and filmmaker (born 1967)
Joshua Cheptegei
athletics competitor
Long-distance runner who holds the world records in both the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters, and won Olympic gold in the 5,000m at Tokyo 2021.
19th Century
2Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Irène Joliot-Curie
chemistnuclear physicist
French nuclear physicist who shared the 1935 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with her husband for discovering artificial radioactivity, continuing her mother Marie Curie's legacy.
Anton Menger
deaneconomist
Austrian jurist and social theorist (1841–1906)
12th Century
1Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Louis VIII of France
monarch
King of France 1223-1226 (1187–1226)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the most famous person born on September 12?
Hans Zimmer, the well-known film composer known for scoring movies like The Lion King, Inception, and Dune, was born on September 12, 1957. Other notable figures include Nobel Prize-winning physicist Irène Joliot-Curie and science fiction author Stanisław Lem.
What Nobel Prize winners were born on September 12?
Irène Joliot-Curie, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1935, was born on September 12, 1897. Akira Suzuki, another Nobel Laureate born on September 12, 1930, received the prize in Chemistry in 2010 for his work on palladium-catalyzed cross couplings in organic synthesis.
Are there any famous composers or musicians born on September 12?
Yes, Hans Zimmer, a leading figure in modern cinema music, was born on September 12, 1957. He has composed scores for over 150 films and won an Academy Award for The Lion King.