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Famous Birthdays on September 19

7 notable people were born on September 19.

September 19 marks the birthdate of several distinguished individuals in different fields. Notable figures born on this day include Finnish novelist Mika Waltari (1908), British author and Nobel Prize winner William Golding (1911), Czechoslovak long-distance runner Emil Zátopek (1922), Japanese physicist and Nobel laureate Masatoshi Koshiba (1926), and Zimbabwean writer Yvonne Vera (1964). They have contributed to literature, athletics, and scientific research throughout the 20th century.

20th Century7 people

William Golding

William Golding

1911 – 1993

Novelist who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1983, best known for 'Lord of the Flies' (1954), his debut novel about schoolboys stranded on an uninhabited island.

novelistpoetscience fiction writerUnited Kingdom
Song Joong-ki

Song Joong-ki

1985

South Korean actor known for his roles in popular television dramas including "Sungkyunkwan Scandal" and "Descendants of the Sun."

actorfilm actortelevision actorSouth Korea
Alexander Karelin

Alexander Karelin

1967

Three-time Olympic champion in Greco-Roman wrestling, widely considered the greatest heavyweight wrestler of all time with only two career losses.

amateur wrestlerpoliticianstatespersonRussia
Mika Waltari

Mika Waltari

1908 – 1979

Finnish historical novelist best known for 'The Egyptian' (1945), which became an international bestseller and was adapted into a Hollywood film. His works have been translated into dozens of languages and sold millions of copies worldwide.

journalistnovelistplaywrightFinland
Masatoshi Koshiba

Masatoshi Koshiba

1926 – 2020

Physicist who shared the 2002 Nobel Prize in Physics for detecting cosmic neutrinos, helping establish the field of neutrino astronomy.

physicistprofessorresearcherJapan
Emil Zátopek

Emil Zátopek

1922 – 2000

Czech long-distance runner who won gold medals in the 5,000m, 10,000m, and marathon at the 1952 Olympics, earning the nickname "Czech Locomotive" for his relentless running style.

athletics competitorcareer soldiermilitary officerCzech Republic
Yvonne Vera

Yvonne Vera

1964 – 2005

Yvonne Vera was a prominent Zimbabwean novelist whose works explored themes of women's experiences and post-colonial identity, winning several international literary awards before her death from AIDS-related illness in 2005.

novelistwriterZimbabwe

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the most famous person born on September 19?
William Golding, the British author of 'Lord of the Flies,' is likely the most internationally recognized person born on September 19. Born in 1911, he won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1983. His dystopian novel is widely read in schools worldwide.
What famous athletes were born on September 19?
Emil Zátopek, the Czech long-distance runner born on September 19, 1922, is renowned for his athletic achievements. Known as the 'Czech Locomotive,' he won four Olympic gold medals and dominated the 1952 Helsinki Olympics with three golds.
Are there any Nobel Prize winners born on September 19?
Yes, William Golding, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1983, and Masatoshi Koshiba, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2002, were both born on September 19. Koshiba, a Japanese physicist, made key contributions to neutrino detection and astronomy.