February 2: Today's Notable Birthdays

If today is your birthday, then you are in excellent company.

(If someone you love is celebrating another year today, why not forward this list to the birthday boy or girl? Click SHARE at the bottom of this page to email the entire article with your "Happy Birthday" message.)

February 2nd was the birth date of several notable (or even notorious) individuals. Here they are:

February 2nd Birthdays: Famous Artists

William Ellisworth Artis, American sculptor and pottery artist, was born on February 2, 1914.

Italian Baroque painter Giovanni Francesco (Guercino) Barbieri (Aurora, David with the Head of Goliath, The Return of the Prodigal, St. Paul and Susanna and the Elders) was born on February 2, 1591.

Fritz Kreisler, Austrian violinist and composer (Caprice Viennois, La Gitana, Liebesfreud and Tambourin Chinois), was born on February 2, 1875.

American composer and lyricist Burton (Lane) Levy was born on February 2, 1912. Burton Lane composed musical scores for several Broadway shows and popular motion pictures, including Babes on Broadway, Carmelina, Dancing Lady, Finian's Rainbow, Hold On to Your Hats, Junior Miss, Laffing Room Only, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, Royal Wedding and Some Like It Hot.

February 2nd Birthdays: Famous Athletes

Jeff Cassar, American soccer player and Olympic gold medalist (1996), was born on February 2, 1974.

Charles Linden (Buster) Crabbe, American swimmer, and Olympic gold medalist (1932) and actor (Captain Gallant of the Foreign Legion and Flash Gordon), was born on February 2, 1908.

American professional football player Michael LaVern (Mike) Fanning (Detroit Lions, Los Angels Rams and Seattle Seahawks) was born on February 2, 1953.

Karl Telford Frederick, American sport shooter and Olympic gold medalist (1920), was born on February 2, 1881.

Aleksandr Medved, Russian wrestler and Olympic gold medalist (1964, 1968 and 1972), was born on February 2, 1947.

American professional baseball player (Milwaukee Braves, New York Giants and St. Louis Cardinals) and coach Albert Fred (Red) Schoendienst was born on February 2, 1923.

John Thomas Tudor, American baseball player (Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals), was born on February 2, 1954.

February 2nd Birthdays: Famous Authors and Journalists

American poet and author James Lafayette Dickey (Buckdancer's Choice, Deliverance, Into the Stone and Other Poems, Self-Interviews and The Zodiac) was born on February 2, 1923.

Abba Eban, Israeli statesman, diplomat and author (Diplomacy for the Next Century and Personal Witness), was born on February 2, 1915.

Irish novelist James Joyce (Chamber Music, Dubliners, Exiles, Finnegan's Wake, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and Ulysses) was born on February 2, 1882.

Ayn Rand, American author (Atlas Shrugged, The Fountainhead and For the New Intellectual), was born on February 2, 1905.

American syndicated gossip columnist and author (Dishing: Great Dish - and Dishes - From America's Most Beloved Gossip Columnist and Natural Blonde) Mary Elizabeth (Liz) Smith was born on February 2, 1923. Liz Smith has been called "The Grande Dame of Dish."

February 2nd Birthdays: Famous Business Leaders

American media executive Barry Diller (Fox Broadcasting, IAC/InterActiveCorp. and USA Broadcasting) was born on February 2, 1942.

George Stanley (Papa Bear) Halas, American professional football player, coach and owner (Chicago Bears), was born on February 2, 1895.

February 2nd Birthdays: Famous Performers

American actor (Dennis the Menace, The Great Gildersleeve, I Love Lucy and My Favorite Husband) and radio personality (The Amazing Interplanetary Adventures of Flash Gordon Fibber McGee and Molly and Granby's Green Acres) Charles R. (Gale Gordon) Aldrich, Jr., was born on February 2, 1906.

American country music singer Homer Howard Bellamy (The Bellamy Brothers) was born on February 2, 1946. Howard Bellamy is brother to country music singer David Bellamy.

Alan Caddy, British guitarist and singer (Johnny Kidd & The Pirates and The Tornados), was born on February 2, 1940.

Ashley Cleveland, American Gospel and contemporary Christian singer ("Angel," "Big Town," "Higher Ground," "Queen of Soul" and "Walk to the Well"), was born on February 2, 1957.

American radio personality Charles James Correll (Amos 'n' Andy) was born on February 2, 1890. Charles Correll's son, Charles Correll, Jr., was also an actor.

Robert Emile DeLeo, American rock bassist and singer (Army of Anyone, Stone Temple Pilots and Talk Show), was born on February 2, 1966. Robert DeLeo is brother to rock guitarist Dean DeLeo.

Lori Beth Denberg, American comedienne, television personality (Figure It Out) and actress (All That, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Good Burger and The Steve Harvey Show), was born on February 2, 1976.

American actress Mary Farrah Leni Fawcett (The Apostle, The Burning Bed, Charlie's Angels, Extremities and Logan's Run) was born on February 2, 1947. Farrah Fawcett was married to actors Lee Majors and had a long-term relationship with Ryan O'Neal.

American jazz saxophonist Stanley (Stan Getz) Gayetsky was born on February 2, 1927. Stan Getz played with Jimmy Dorsey, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Goodman, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, Gerry Mulligan, Jack Teagarden, Lester Young and other artists. His best known hit songs include "Desafinado" and "The Girl from Ipanema."

Russian-American concert violinist Jascha Heifetz was born on February 2, 1901.

Bo Hopkins, American actor (American Graffiti, The Bridge at Remagen, Dynasty, The Getaway, The Killer Elite, Midnight Express, More American Graffiti, Radioland Murders, The Rockford Files, A Small Town in Texas, The Wild Bunch and White Lightning), was born on February 2, 1942.

Christie (Brinkley) Lee Hudson, American model and actress (National Lampoon's Vacation), was born on February 2, 1954. Christie Brinkley was married to singer Billy Joel, among others.

American country music singer Blaine Larson ("How Do You Get That Lonely") was born on February 2, 1986.

Peter Lucia, American rock drummer (Tommy James and the Shondells), was born on February 2, 1947.

American jazz marimba and vibraphone player Arthur Lyman was born on February 2, 1932. Arthur Lyman was known as "The King of Lounge Music."

Robert Mandan, American actor (Days of Our Lives, The Facts of Life, From These Roots, Private Benjamin, Search for Tomorrow, Soap and Three's a Crowd), was born on February 2, 1932.

American actor Jack McGee (The Alphabet Killer, Crash, No Place Like Home, NYPD Blue and Rescue Me) was born on February 2, 1948.

Ben Mize, American rock drummer (Counting Crows), was born on February 2, 1971.

British guitarist, singer and songwriter Graham William Nash (Crosby Stills & Nash and Crosby Stills Nash and Young) was born on February 2, 1942.

Aric Nitzberg, American Christian rock bass guitarist (Caedman's Call), was born on February 2, 19--.

Colombian Latin singer and songwriter Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll ("Donde Estas Corazon," "Estoy Aqui," "Hips Don't Lie" and "Whenever Wherever") was born on February 2, 1977.

American comedian, folk guitarist and television personality (The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour) Thomas Bolin (Tommy) Smothers, III, was born on February 2, 1937. Tommy Smothers is brother to comedian and musician Dick Smothers.

Brett Spiner, American actor (Star Trek: The Next Generation), was born on February 2, 1949.

Elaine Stritch, American singer ("The Ladies Who Lunch") and actress (30 Rock, Cake Walk, Company, My Sister Eileen, Providence, September, Three Violent People, The Trials of O'Brien and Two's Company), was born on February 2, 1925.

American actor Michael Talbott (Any Which Way You Can, Big Wednesday, Carrie, Eight Is Enough, First Blood, Used Cars, M*A*S*H, Miami Vice and Sanford and Son) was born on February 2, 1955.

American rock bassist Ross Lamont Valory (Journey) was born on February 2, 1949.

Michael Terry Weiss, American actor (Dark Shadows, Days of Our Lives, Freeway, The Legend of Tarzan, The Pretender and Profiler), was born on February 2, 1962.

Jennifer Westfeldt, American actress (How to Lose Your Lover and Notes from the Underbelly) and screenwriter (Ira and Abby and Kissing Jessica Stein), was born on February 2, 1970.

British actor Sir David John (David Jason) White (Only Fools and Horses, Royal Flash, A Touch of Frost, Under Milk Wood and White Cargo) was born on February 2, 1940. David Jason's brother is actor Arthur White.

Marissa Jaret Winokur, American actress (Dharma & Greg, Felicity, Moesha, Stacked and The Steve Harvey Show), was born on February 2, 1973.

Kim Zimmer, American actress (Body Heat, The Doctors, Guiding Light, One Life to Live and Santa Barbara), was born on February 2, 1955.

February 2nd Birthdays: Famous Scientists

Lodovico Ferrari, Italian mathematician, was born on February 2, 1522.

February 2nd Birthdays: Famous World (and Other) Leaders

French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing was born on February 2, 1926.

Antonio Segni, Italian Premier and President, was born on February 2, 1891.

Do you know any others who are celebrating birthdays on February 2nd?

If you know additional notable people (including yourself) who may be celebrating a birthday on February 2nd, please indicate so in a comment below. Thank you!

Happy Birthday, February 2nd.

Other Notable Birthdates:

Click here to check other calendar dates for notable birthdates.

Sources:

http://440.com/twtd/today.html

http://christianmusic.about.com/library/bl_bdjul.htm

http://halife.com/daily/trivia

http://halife.com/religion

http://thinkexist.com/birthday

http://www.arts.ufl.edu/ART/rt_room/artist_birthdays/july.html

http://www.born-today.com/bt.htm

http://www.brainyhistory.com/daysbirth

http://www.celebrity-link.com

http://www.christianactivities.com/artistspotlight/story.asp?ID=893

http://www.famousbirthdays.net

http://www.historyorb.com/today/tomorrowsbirthdays.php

http://www.holidayinsights.com/bday

http://www.infoplease.com/birthday

http://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/kids/artists.htm

http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday

http://www.thelizlibrary.org/collections/woa/woa.html

http://www.toonopedia.com/today.htm

http://www.wilsonsalmanac.com/book

http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Day_files/Now.html