September 26 birthdays and deaths:

Paul Newman

Paul Newman was a legendary American actor, director, and producer, known for his rugged charisma and iconic roles in films like "The Sting," "The Verdict," and "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid."

Deathyear: 2008

Daniel Boone

Daniel Boone (1734-1820) was a legendary American frontiersman, hunter, and explorer. He founded Boonesborough, Kentucky, and led the settlement's defense against Native American attacks. Known for his bravery and hunting prowess, Boone remained a folk hero in American history for over two centuries.

Deathyear: 1820

Gloria Stuart

Gloria Stuart (born July 4, 1910) is an American actress who has appeared in over 100 films, including her iconic role as Old Rose in James Cameron's 1997 hit "Titanic". She is one of Hollywood's last remaining stars from the 1930s and 1940s.

Deathyear: 2010

Jacques Chirac

Jacques Chirac was a French politician who served as President of France from 1995 to 2007. As a prominent figure in the French Gaullist movement, he was known for his strong leadership and commitment to European integration.

Deathyear: 2019

Levi Strauss

Levi Strauss was a German-American businessman who founded Levi Strauss & Co. in 1853 with his brothers. He revolutionized clothing with the creation of work pants, now iconic "jeans." Born in Bavaria in 1829, Strauss migrated to the US and established a dry goods business in San Francisco.

Deathyear: 1902

Bessie Smith

Bessie Smith, known as "The Empress of the Blues," was a renowned American singer and actress. Born in 1894, she became one of the most popular and influential blues singers of the 1920s, known for her powerful, soulful voice and energetic stage presence.

Deathyear: 1937

Richard Mulligan

Richard Mulligan was a renowned American actor, born in 1932, known for his versatility in film and television. He starred in TV series "Soap" and "Empty Nest," earning multiple Emmy nominations, and appeared in films like "Next of Kin" and "Outrageous Fortune."

Deathyear: 2000

Béla Bartók

Béla Bartók was a renowned Hungarian pianist and composer of classical music. Born in 1881, he was known for his unique style that blended traditional Hungarian folk music with modernist techniques.

Deathyear: 1945

Robert Palmer

Robert Palmer (1949-present) was a British singer-songwriter known for his soulful voice and eclectic style. He first gained fame fronting the band Vinegar Joe before launching a solo career, scoring hits like "Addicted to Love" and "Simply Irresistible".

Deathyear: 2003

George Santayana

George Santayana, a renowned Spanish-American writer and philosopher, was born in 1863. He is known for his philosophical ideas on the nature of reality, the role of the individual, and the cyclical nature of human history, as explored in his novels, poetry, and essays.

Deathyear: 1952

Hemant Kumar

Hemanta Kumar Mukhopadhyay is a legendary Indian singer-songwriter and producer, born in 1920. With a career spanning over seven decades, he has created timeless Bengali music, blending folk, classical, and modern styles. His iconic voice and lyrics have captivated audiences for generations.

Deathyear: 1989

Lafcadio Hearn

Lafcadio Hearn, a Greek-Irish journalist and academic, was born in 1850. He left for Paris in 1890 and Japan in 1896, adopting Japanese citizenship. He wrote 12 books, including "Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan" and "Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of StrangeThings".

Deathyear: 1904

Sidney Phillips

Sidney Phillips was a remarkable individual who served as a doctor in the US Army during the Korean War. He wrote a bestselling novel, "The Warriors," which was based on his experiences in combat.

Deathyear: 2015

Margaret, Maid of Norway

Margaret, Maid of Norway, was Queen of Scotland from 1286 to 1290. Born in 1283, she was the grandchild of King Alexander III and was crowned at the age of three. Her untimely death at 9 led to a succession crisis that saw the throne pass to John Balliol.

Deathyear: 1290

Anna Magnani

Anna Magnani was a renowned Italian actress and singer, known for her powerful stage presence and versatility. Born in 1908, she grew to international fame, starring in films like "Bella Signora" and "The Rose Tattoo," winning numerous awards, and earning the nickname "La Diva della Valchiusa."

Deathyear: 1973

Arthur Hunnicutt

Arthur Hunnicutt was an American character actor, born in 1910. He appeared in over 100 films and TV shows, often playing grizzled authority figures. Notable roles include his Oscar-nominated performance in "Giant" (1956) and his starring role in the TV series "Wanted: Dead or Alive" (1958-1961).

Deathyear: 1979

Iva Toguri D'Aquino

Iva Toguri D'Aquino, born in 1916 in Los Angeles, was a Japanese American woman who became a notorious wartime propagandist broadcasting for Radio Tokyo during World War II, earning the nickname "Tokyo Rose," transmitting messages aimed at discouraging Allied forces.

Deathyear: 2006

Nicu Ceaușescu

Nicu Ceaușescu, son of Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu, was born in 1951. Despite his father's notorious legacy, Nicu pursued a career in politics, serving as a senator and later as a member of the European Parliament, advocating for democratic reforms in Romania.

Deathyear: 1996

Ibn Taymiyya

Ibn Taymiya (1263-1328 CE) was a renowned Islamic scholar and philosopher from Harran, Syria. He wrote extensively on theology, philosophy, and Hadith, and was a fierce critic of philosophical influences on Islamic thought. His views on taqleed (following tradition) and tawassul (intercession) remain influential in Islamic scholarship.

Deathyear: 1328

Byron Nelson

Byron Nelson, an American golf legend, won 52 PGA Tour events, including five majors. A dominating force in the 1930s-40s, he won 11 straight tournaments in 1945, a record.

Deathyear: 2006

Ralph Earnhardt

Ralph Earnhardt was an American race car driver born in 1928. He started racing on moonshine-running trips and won multiple championships at Hickory Motor Speedway. His fearless driving style and unorthodox mechanic skills earned him the nickname "The Golden Bulldog."

Deathyear: 1973

Uday Shankar

Uday Shankar was a renowned Indian dancer, choreographer, and theatre artist. Born in 1900, he was one of India's earliest classical dancers. He revolutionized Indian dance with his fusion of traditional and modern styles, creating a unique blend of Bharatanatyam, Kathak, and contemporary dance.

Deathyear: 1977

Shawn Lane

Shawn Lane was a virtuosic American guitarist, songwriter, and producer born in 1963. Known for his lightning-fast solos and intricate playing style, he released several acclaimed albums and collaborated with artists like Billy Sheehan and Tony Levin. Tragically, he passed away in 2003 at the age of 40.

Deathyear: 2003

S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike

S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike was a Sri Lankan politician and lawyer who served as the 4th Prime Minister of Sri Lanka from 1956 until his assassination in 1959. He was a key figure in Sri Lankan politics, advocating for Buddhist values and social welfare policies.

Deathyear: 1959

Alberto Moravia

Alberto Moravia was a renowned Italian author, critic, and intellectual. Born in 1907, he is best known for his novels, such as "Gli indifferenti" and "Contemplations", which often explored themes of morality, morality, and the human condition in post-WWII Italy.

Deathyear: 1990

Thomas Clarkson

Thomas Clarkson (1760-1846) was a prominent English abolitionist who played a key role in the abolitionist movement. He co-authored the influential pamphlet "A Dissertation on the Slave Trade" and worked closely with William Wilberforce to push for the abolition of the slave trade.

Deathyear: 1846

August Ferdinand Möbius

August Ferdinand Möbius, a German mathematician and astronomer, was born in 1790. He made significant contributions to topology, geometry, and astronomy.

Deathyear: 1868

Betty Carter

Betty Carter was a groundbreaking American jazz singer known for her innovative, vocalese-styled singing, which blended scat singing and lyrics. She was a pioneering female jazz artist, praised for her vocal agility, range, and interpretive skills, inspiring a new generation of jazz singers.

Deathyear: 1998

Hugh Lofting

Hugh Lofting was a renowned English-American author and poet, born in 1886. He is best known for writing "The Story of Doctor Dolittle", a beloved children's book series about a kind-hearted doctor who can talk to animals.

Deathyear: 1947

Taichang Emperor

Taichang Emperor (28 November 1582 – 22 September 1600) was the ninth emperor of the Ming dynasty in China, ruling from 1600 to 1600. He was the nephew and adopted son of Wanli Emperor. He died at the age of 18, just 76 days into his reign.

Deathyear: 1620

Baden Powell (guitarist)

Baden Powell de Aquino, a Brazilian guitarist and composer, was born in 1937. He's known for his unique and innovative guitar playing style that blends Brazilian rhythms with jazz and classical music, creating a distinctive sound that has influenced many musicians around the world.

Deathyear: 2000

John Facenda

John Facenda was a renowned American sportscaster, best known for his work with HBO and NBC. He is often regarded as the "Voice of Sports," charming audiences with his iconic voice and nostalgic storytelling. Facenda's broadcasting career spanned over three decades, captivating fans with his genuine passion for sports.

Deathyear: 1984

Hermann Grassmann

Hermann Grassmann was a German mathematician and physicist born in 1809. He is best known for his work in abstract algebra and his development of the theory of vectors, also known as Grassmann algebra.

Deathyear: 1877