Today, August 13, is the birthday of renowned and famous people like the former President of Cuba, Fidel Castro, Iconic Hollywood film director Alfred Hitchcock, Pioneer inventor and engineer John Logie Baird, celebrated actress Madhur Jaffrey, fashion icon Marie Helvin, and the all-time top goal scorer in the Premier League and one of the greatest footballers of his generation, pundit Alan Shearer.
These influential figures and others have enriched the World with their enduring legacies and continue positively impacting it. Join the New God as we celebrate the birth of the famous people in this article on August 13.
Who Are The Famous People’s Born Today?
Please stick to this article as we celebrate and honor the famous people born today, August 13:
John Logie Baird will have been 136 years old today.

John Logie Baird, born in Helensburgh, Scotland, on August 13, 1888, was a pioneering Scottish engineer and inventor. He is best known for inventing and demonstrating the first live working television system, a groundbreaking achievement that set the pace for worldwide advancement in communication and entertainment.
John Logie Baird was the son of Reverend John Baird and Jessie Morrison Inglis. His father was a Church of Scotland minister, and his mother was a schoolteacher. Baird had three siblings. He attended Larchfield Academy in Helensburgh and Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College before studying electrical engineering at the University of Glasgow. However, his studies were interrupted by World War I, during which he served in a non-combat role due to health issues at Valley Electrical Power Company.
In 1923, he moved to Hastings, where he rented a shop and began experimenting with the first television system using an old hatbox, a few bicycle light lenses, some darning needles, a pair of scissors, a used tea chest, and sealing wax and glue. By 1925, he successfully transmitted the first recognizable image of a human face. This success led to a public demonstration in London in 1926, where Baird showcased the world’s first working television system for members of the Royal Institution.
Baird continued to refine his invention, introducing color television and stereoscopic (3D) television. He also developed the first video recording system, known as Phonovision. In 1928, he achieved the first transatlantic television transmission from London to New York through the Baird Television Development Company Ltd, which he founded.
Despite his groundbreaking work, Baird’s mechanical television system eventually lost out to electronic television systems developed by other inventors like George William Walton and William Stephenson. However, his contributions laid the foundation for modern television technology.
John Logie Baird married Margaret Albu, a South African concert pianist, in 1931. The couple had two children, Diana and Malcolm.
John Logie Baird was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1937 and was awarded the Institute of Physics’ Faraday Medal in 1939. In 2014, he was inducted into the Scottish Engineering Hall of Fame.
In his later years, Baird continued to work on new inventions, including fiber optics and radar. However, his health declined, and he suffered a stroke in 1946. John died on June 14, 1946, at age 57, in Bexhill-on-Sea, England.
Quick Fact About John Logie Baird
- John Logie Baird was the son of Reverend John Baird.
- He did not complete his degree program at the University of Glasgow following the interruption of World War I.
- John started working on his first television in 1923.
- He publicly demonstrated the world’s first working television in 1926.
Bert Lahr will have been 129 years old today.

Bert Lahr was an iconic American actor and comedian best known for his role as the Cowardly Lion in “The Wizard of Oz” (1939). He was born on August 13, 1895, in New York City, United States.
Bert Lahr was born to German-Jewish immigrants Jacob and Augusta Lahrheim. His father worked as an upholsterer, and his mother was a homemaker. Lahr grew up in a working-class neighborhood in New York. Lahr attended P.S. 77 and Morris High School; however, at 15, he left school to join a juvenile vaudeville act, embarking on an entertainment career spanning over five decades. He also served in the United Navy as a second-class seaman during the First World War.
Lahr’s career began in vaudeville at 14 and later became top billing for the Columbia Amusement Company. He had transitioned to Broadway, made his debut in 1927 in Harry Delmar’s Revels, and found success in musical comedies such as “Hold Everything!” (1928) and “Flying High” (1930).
In 1939, Lahr became a household name with a role as Cowardly Lion in “The Wizard of Oz.” His performance was a perfect blend of humor, pathos, and humanity, and it remains one of the most memorable roles in film history.
Lahr’s career extended beyond The Wizard of Oz. He starred in a variety of films, including “Meet the People” (1944), “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (1935), “Always Leave Them Laughing” (1949), and “The Night They Raided Minsky” (1968). On Broadway, he received acclaim for his performances in productions like “Burlesque” (1946), “Never Too Late” (1965), “Hotel Paradiso” (1957), and Waiting for Godot (1956).
Bert Lahr married his first wife, Mercedes Delpino, in 1929, and they had one son, Herbert. After their divorce, Lahr married Mildred Schroeder in 1940, with whom he had two children, John and Jane. His son John Lahr became a well-known theater critic and biographer, writing a comprehensive biography of his father titled “Notes on a Cowardly Lion.”
Bert Lahr’s performance in “The Wizard of Oz” earned him a place in cinema history, and he was posthumously awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
He died on December 4, 1967, while filming “The Night They Raided Minsky’s” at the age of 72.
Quick Fact About Bert Lahr
- Bert Lahr’s name given at birth is Irving Lahrheim.
- Bert Lahr’s parents were German-Jewish immigrants.
- She began his career at the age of 14 and dropped out of school at the age of 15.
- He died at the age of 72 and was survived by three children.
Alfred Hitchcock will have been 125 years old today.

Alfred Hitchcock is regarded as one of the iconic personalities in cinema history. The renowned English film director was born in Leytonstone, Essex, England, to William Hitchcock and Emma Jane Hitchcock Whelan on August 13, 1899. His father was a greengrocer and poulterer. He has an older brother named William John and a sister named Ellen Kathleen. Raised in the strict Catholic tradition, Hitchcock attended St. Ignatius’ College and later the London County Council School of Engineering and Navigation, taking night classes as he worked as a technical clerk at the Henley Telegraph and Cable Company because he lost his dad at the age of 15. He joined the Royal Engineers as a cadet regiment.
Alfred’s interest in creative writing grew, and he became the business manager and founding editor of Henley’s in-house publication.
Hitchcock began his career in the film industry in 1919 as a title card designer for silent films at the Famous Players-Lasky studio in London. He was later hired as an assistant director by Gainsborough Pictures and, by 1925, had directed his first feature film, “The Pleasure Garden.”
He gained attention with “The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog” (1927), a suspenseful thriller. Throughout the 1930s, he directed several successful British films, including “The 39 Steps” (1935) and “The Lady Vanishes” (1938).
In 1939, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood, earning the nickname “Master of Suspense.” His first American film, “Rebecca” (1940), won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Over the next few decades, Hitchcock directed numerous classics, including “Vertigo” (1958), “North by Northwest” (1959), “Psycho” (1960), and “The Birds” (1963).
By the time of his death on April 29, 1980, at the age of 80, Hitchcock had amassed a considerable net worth of $10 million, making him one of the wealthier film directors of the time.
Hitchcock married the film editor and screenwriter Alma Reville on December 2, 1926. The couple had one daughter, Patricia Hitchcock, who appeared in several of her father’s films and later pursued her own acting career.
Alfred has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one for television and a second for motion pictures. Hitchcock was also knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1980, just a few months before his death, becoming Sir Alfred Hitchcock. Alfred won eight Laurel Awards, an Academy Award for Best Picture, two Golden Globes, and five lifetime achievement awards, including an AFI Life Achievement Award and the first BAFTA Academy Fellowship Award in 1971 and 1979.
Quick Fact About Alfred Hitchcock
- Alfred Hitchcock’s full name is Alfred Joseph Hitchcock.
- He lost his father at the age of 15.
- Alfred began his career in the film industry as a title card designer.
- His net worth was estimated to be $10 million at the time of his death.
- He had his breakthrough with “The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog.”
Rod Hull will have been 89 years old today.

Rod Hull was born in the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, England, on August 13, 1935. He attended Delemark Road School and the County Technical School; he did his National Service with the Royal Air Force.
Rod Hull began his career as an electrician before entering the entertainment world and became one of the celebrated comedian in British television history.
His career in entertainment began when he moved to Australia in 1956 and was hired as a lighting technician for TCN Channel 9 in Sydney. He started as a television presenter on children’s programs. He first found fame with a show called “Kaper Kops” on Channel 9 as Constable Clot with Desmond Tester and Reg Gorman. However, his creation of “Emu,” a mischievous, mute puppet bird, brought him widespread recognition on The Super Flying Fun Show, a children’s breakfast show he co-hosted with Marilyn Mayo.
Hull’s return to the UK in early 1971 marked the beginning of his most successful period. Emu became a household name through Hull’s various television appearances.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Hull starred in several television shows, including “Emu’s Broadcasting Company,” “EMU TV,” “Emu’s All Live Pink Windmill Show” and “Emu’s World.”
Rod Hull was married twice. His first marriage was to Sandra Carter in 1958, with whom he had two daughters, Debbie and Danielle. The marriage ended in divorce. Hull later married Cher Hylton-Hull, with whom he had three more children: Amelia, Toby, and Oliver.
Rod Hull’s net worth fluctuated throughout his life. During the peak of his career, he enjoyed considerable success and wealth. However, financial difficulties later in life, compounded by changing tastes in entertainment, led to a decline in his fortunes.
On the evening of March 17, 1999, Rod Hull attempted to adjust the television aerial on the roof of his bungalow during halftime of a Champions League match between Inter Milan and Manchester United. Tragically, he lost his footing and fell, sustaining a severe skull fracture and chest injuries. He was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital in Hastings. After an inquest, the coroner concluded that his death was accidental. He was 63 years old at the time.
Quick Fact About Rod Hull
- Rod Hull’s full name given at birth is Rodney Stephen Hull.
- He served in the Royal Air Force during his National Service.
- He began his career in television as a lighting technician for TCN Channel 9 in Sydney.
- Rod died at the age of 63.
More Famous People Birthday: August 13.
Fidel Castro will have been 97 years old today.

BirthYear: 1927
Place Of Birth: Biran, Cuba
Profession: Former President of Cuba
Alan Shearer is 54 years old today.

BirthYear: 1970
Place Of Birth: Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
Profession: Football pundit and former professional player
Madhur Jaffrey is 91 years old today.

BirthYear: 1933
Place Of Birth: Delhi, India
Profession: Actress
Marie Helvin is 72 years old today.

BirthYear: 1952
Place Of Birth: Tokyo, Japan
Profession: Former Fashion designer
Feargal Sharkey is 66 years old today.

BirthYear: 1958
Place Of Birth: Londonderry, United Kingdom
Profession: Singer
Sebastian Stan is 42 years old today.

BirthYear: 1982
Place Of Birth: Constanța, Romania
Profession: Actor
DeMarcus Cousins is 34 years old today.

BirthYear: 1990
Place Of Birth: Mobile, Alabama, United States
Profession: Professional basketball player
Debi Mazar is 60 years old today.

BirthYear: 1964
Place Of Birth: Jamaica, New York, United States
Profession: Actress and TV personality