August 3 birthdays and deaths:

Lenny Bruce

Lenny Bruce was a pioneering comedian, actor, and writer known for his incisive, irreverent humor and biting social commentary. Despite facing controversy and legal battles, Bruce remains a beloved and influential figure in American comedy, his impact still felt in many comedians and comedy styles today.

Deathyear: 1966

Mark Margolis

Mark Margolis is a renowned American actor, born in 1939. He has appeared in various films and TV shows, including "The Sopranos," "Gotham," and "Brooklyn Nine-Nine." He is known for his distinctive voice and has had a prolific career in TV and film.

Deathyear: 2023

Carolyn Jones

Carolyn Jones was an American actress of stage and screen, born on January 28, 1930. She is best known for her role as Morticia Addams in the 1964 film "The Addams Family" and its sequel, as well as her performances on Broadway.

Deathyear: 1983

Joseph Conrad

Joseph Conrad, born Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski in 1857, was a renowned Polish-born British novelist and sailor. His works, like "Heart of Darkness" and "Lord Jim", explore existential themes, imperialism, and the human condition, earning him a reputation as one of the greatest English-language novelists of all time.

Deathyear: 1924

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn is a renowned Russian novelist, dramatist, and historian who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1970. He is best known for his powerful and poignant accounts of the Soviet Union's labor camps, as depicted in his novel "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich".

Deathyear: 2008

Flannery O'Connor

Flannery O'Connor was a Southern Gothic master, weaving dark humor and Christian existentialism into her tales of misfits and renegades. Her sparse, concise prose reflected her Catholic upbringing and the rural Georgia landscape she called home.

Deathyear: 1964

Ida Lupino

Ida Lupino was a versatile actress, director, and singer born in 1918. She transitioned from actress to woman director, pioneering a male-dominated industry. Her directorial debut, "The Bigamist" (1953), showcased her versatility.

Deathyear: 1995

Colette

Colette, a prominent French novelist and journalist, was born in 1873. She wrote over 70 books, including novels, plays, and memoirs. Her writings often focused on women's rights, sexuality, and the human condition.

Deathyear: 1954

Bubba Smith

Bubba Smith, an American football player and actor, was born on February 28, 1945. He played nose tackle in the NFL for the Redskins and Colts, earning a Super Bowl ring. Smith is best known for his comedic roles in films like "The Naked Gun" and "Police Academy" series.

Deathyear: 2011

Jackie Walorski

Jackie Walorski is an American politician born in 1963. A Republican, she has served Indiana's 2nd Congressional District since 2010. Prior to Congress, she was a member of the Indiana State Senate.

Deathyear: 2022

Konstantin Rokossovsky

Konstantin Rokossovsky, a Polish-born Soviet General, served as Marshal of the Soviet Union during World War II. Born in 1896, he fought on the Eastern Front, commanding the 13th and 16th Armies, and later the Central Front, playing a key role in the Battle of Stalingrad and the Soviet advance.

Deathyear: 1968

James II of Scotland

James II, King of Scotland (1430-1460), was a pivotal figure in Scottish history. Ascending the throne at a young age, he faced internal strife and external threats, ultimately leading to his deposition. His reign marked a significant period of political turmoil and power struggles in Scotland.

Deathyear: 1460

Roger Casement

Roger Casement was a prominent Irish poet, nationalist, and anti-slavery activist. As a founding member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, he participated in the 1916 Easter Rising. Casement later served as the Secretary of the Irish Republic before his capture and execution for treason in 1916.

Deathyear: 1916

Henri Cartier-Bresson

Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908-2004) was a renowned French photographer and painter known for his pioneering work in street photography. His concept of the "decisive moment" captured fleeting moments of human experience. His work continues to influence photography and art worldwide.

Deathyear: 2004

Thorstein Veblen

Thorstein Veblen was a pioneering American economist and sociologist born in 1857. He's known for his theory of social classes and conspicuous consumption, which posits that individuals demonstrate social status through lavish spending and displays of wealth, rather than actual economic value.

Deathyear: 1929

Bram Moolenaar

Bram Moolenaar is a Dutch software engineer, born in 1961. He is best known as the creator of the popular text editor, Vim. Moolenaar started working on Vim in the late 1980s and continued to develop it until 2011, making it one of the most popular and widely-used editors worldwide.

Deathyear: 2023

Coleen Gray

Coleen Gray was a versatile American actress born in 1922. She appeared in over 60 films and television shows, showcasing her range in roles from drama to comedy. Gray's notable performances include "The Big Heat" and "Tom Sawyer."

Deathyear: 2015

John Hume

John Hume was a Northern Irish politician and Nobel laureate who played a key role in the Northern Ireland peace process. As a leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party, he worked tirelessly for peace and reconciliation, earning him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1998.

Deathyear: 2020

Peter Collins (racing driver)

Peter Collins, a British racing driver, was born in 1931. He competed in the Formula One World Championship from 1952 to 1958, achieving one podium finish and scoring a total of 8 points. Collins was also a successful sports car and endurance racing driver.

Deathyear: 1958

Makarios III

Makarios III was a prominent Cypriot archbishop and politician who served as the 1st President of the Republic of Cyprus from 1960 to 1977. Born in 1913, he played a crucial role in the country's independence struggle and peacefully unified the island in the 1950-59 Eoka struggle.

Deathyear: 1977

Arthur Lee (musician)

Arthur Lee was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer, best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist of the psychedelic rock band Love. Known for his distinctive vocals and poetic lyrics, Lee's music blended folk, rock, and psychedelic elements to create a unique sound.

Deathyear: 2006

Christopher Hewett

Christopher Hewett was a distinguished English actor and director born in 1922. He appeared in numerous stage productions and television shows, including the popular sitcom "Mrs. Sweeney" and "Doogie Howser, M.D.". Hewett was also an accomplished director, working with notable stage companies.

Deathyear: 2001

Richard Arkwright

Richard Arkwright, a pioneering English engineer and entrepreneur, invented the water frame, revolutionizing the textile industry in the late 18th century. His innovations led to the mechanization of textile production, making mass production possible and contributing significantly to the Industrial Revolution.

Deathyear: 1792

Rod Ansell

Rod Ansell, born in 1953, was an Australian hunter and explorer who gained fame after being stranded for 40 days on a deserted Pacific island in 1979. His survival story, dubbed the "Robinson Crusoe" of Australia, was later adapted into a film, "Congo" (1987).

Deathyear: 1999

Skip Caray

Skip Caray was a legendary American sportscaster, born in 1939. He worked for the Atlanta Braves, Chicago White Sox, and other teams, renowned for his witty humor and folksy charm. Caray's warm and engaging broadcasting style made him a beloved figure in American sports.

Deathyear: 2008

Robert Conquest

Robert Conquest (1917-) is a renowned English-American historian, poet, and academic. He is known for his scholarly works on Russian history, particularly his book "The Great Terror", which exposed the atrocities of Stalin's regime.

Deathyear: 2015

Emile Berliner

Emile Berliner was a German-American inventor and businessman born in 1851. He invented the phonograph, a device that could record and play back sound, revolutionizing music and communication. His invention enabled the mass production of recordings and changed the music industry forever.

Deathyear: 1929

Alfred Schnittke

Alfred Schnittke was a renowned Russian composer and journalist, born in 1934. His unique, eclectic style blended modernism and minimalism, earning him the nickname "enfant terrible" of Soviet music. His compositions, including symphonies and chamber music, continue to captivate audiences worldwide.

Deathyear: 1998

Jeffery Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst

Jeffery Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst, was a renowned English field marshal and politician. As Colonial Governor of Virginia, he oversaw the colony from 1781-1784. Born in 1717, Amherst was distinguished for his military victories, particularly his campaigns against the French and Native American forces.

Deathyear: 1797

Bobby Hebb

Bobby Hebb was a renowned American singer-songwriter and guitarist, born in 1938. Hebb rose to fame in the 1960s with his soulful voice and hits like "Sunny" and "Ain't That a Groove," becoming a household name and a staple of the era's popular music scene.

Deathyear: 2010

Wang Hongwen

Wang Hongwen was a Chinese revolutionary, politician, and trade unionist who rose to become one of the most powerful figures in China's Communist Party, serving as a member of the Politburo Standing Committee and the Gang of Four, alongside Mao Zedong, Jiang Qing, and Zhang Chunqiao.

Deathyear: 1992

Alfred Lunt

Alfred Lunt was a renowned American actor and director who dominated the Great White Way with his exquisite taste and elegance. Born in 1892, Lunt co-founded the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre and starred alongside his wife, Lynn Fontanne, in a string of critically-acclaimed productions.

Deathyear: 1977

Elisabeth Schwarzkopf

Elisabeth Schwarzkopf was a renowned German-English soprano and actress, born in 1915. Noted for her iconic performances in operas such as Strauss's "Der Rosenkavalier" and Mozart's "The Magic Flute", Schwarzkopf's powerful and expressive voice captivated audiences worldwide.

Deathyear: 2006

Johanna Quandt

Johanna Quandt, born 1926, was a German businesswoman and heiress to the Quandt family fortune. She inherited shares in BMW and other companies, becoming one of Germany's richest women. She remained private, shunning the spotlight, and passed away in 2012, leaving behind a vast fortune.

Deathyear: 2015