August Celebrity Birthdays

August 1: Jerry Garcia

Jerome “Jerry” Garcia was born August 1, 1942 in Oakland, California. Garcia, and his band, the Grateful Dead, were pioneers of the San Francisco psychedelic rock music scene of the 1960’s. Though mostly known as a musician, Garcia was also an artist. In fact, many of his designs can now be found on neckties. Sadly, Garcia passed away August 9, 1995.

August 3: Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart was born August 3, 1941 in Jersey City, NJ. Although Stewart is best known as a domestic diva, she started out as a stock broker. In 1976, she left Wall Street to become a caterer, and the rest is history.

August 7: Charlize Theron

Although stunning in real life, Charlize Theron won her Academy Award for downplaying her beauty as serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster. Born in Benoni, South Africa on August 7, 1975, Theron also worked as a model and trained at the Joffrey School of Ballet in New York City. Theron is the first South African actress to win the “Best Actress” Oscar.

August 14: Halle Berry

Halle Berry

Speaking of Academy Award winners, Halle Berry was born August 14, 1966 in Cleveland, Ohio. Before she was an award-winning actress, Berry was a beauty pageant queen and fashion model. Besides winning her Oscar for her starring role in Monster’s Ball, Berry has starred in movies such as The Flintstones, X-Men, Die Another Day and Cat Woman.

August 15: Ben Affleck

Benjamin Geza Affleck was born August 15, 1972 in Berkeley, California. Though Affleck worked as a child actor, he’s better know for more grown up roles in such movies as School Ties, Dazed and Confused and Mallrats. In 1997 Affleck and his good friend Matt Damon won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Good Will Hunting.

August 19: John Stamos

Fans of the soap General Hospital might remember John Stamos as bad boy Blackie Parrish, but it was his stint as “Uncle Jesse” on the sitcom Full House that made him a household name. Stamos, born August 19, 1963, is now a star of stage and screen.

August 23: River Phoenix

River Phoenix, born River Jude Bottom, was a promising Academy Award nominated actor. He won the hearts of many in the coming of age film, Stand by Me. He won critical acclaim in such films as Own Private Idaho, and Running on Empty. Tragically his promising career came to an end when Phoenix died of a drug overdose on October 31, 1993. He was 23 years old.

August 25: Sean Connery

Best known for playing James Bond, Sir Sean Connery was born August 25, 1930 in Edinburgh, Scottland. Before becoming an actor, Connery competed in a Mr. Universe competition where he came in third among “tall men.” From there, it was suggested he become an actor. Though he’s appeared in many films, it’s his role as the suave, sexy Bond for which he is best remembered.

August 28: Shania Twain

Shania Twain

Born Eileen Edwards on August 28, 1965, in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Shania Twain always wanted to be an entertainer. As a child, she sang at various clubs and bars to help support her family. After her parents died, she supported her siblings while singing at an area resort. An entertainment lawyer from Nashville enjoyed her singing and encouraged her to submit a demo tape. Thanks to that fateful meeting, Shania Twain has found herself at the top of the pop and country charts many times over.

August 31: Richard Gere

Richard Tiffany Gere was born August 31, 1949 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He left college after two years to pursue a career as an actor and musician. Gere is an accomplished trumpet player. Gere’s first acting job was a London stage production of the musical Grease. His first major role was in 1980’s American Gigolo. In addition to being an actor, Gere is a human rights activist.