mental_floss magazine
SUBSCRIBE >
GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS >
DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS >
subscriber services >
With Leap Day coming up next Friday, I began to search my trivia mind for names of people that had been born on February 29. I recall a source saying Superman was born on that date, along with John Tesh. Oh, and “Froggy” from the Our Gang movie shorts. So I began to think about other unusual birthdates, and even examined my own. I realized that if I’d been born a week later, mine would be 4/5/67, which would’ve been cool because of the sequential numbers.
Thus was born this Weekend Genius Challenge. Find a famous person, living or dead, whose birthdate is numerically unusual. 5/5/55 would be an example (all fives), as would 2/4/68 (all even numbers) or 1/6/1666. I’ll leave it to you to determine what makes the date unique. Post the person’s name and birthdate it in the comments below, and we’ll pick one of them at random to win a T-shirt of your choice from the mental_floss store. (Yes, we’ll check to make sure the date is correct.) Why a random pick? I’m taking Leap Day off. Hey, it only comes around every four years!
If you’re lucky, this Leap Day will be the last one you’ll ever have to live with an incomplete wardrobe. Wouldn’t you look great in one of these?
Princess Beatrice (daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson) was born on 8-8-88. I always thought that was a cool birthday.
posted by Jennifer on 2-23-2008 at 10:20 am
Robert Heinlein, born on 07-07-07. Super lucky. :)
posted by Megan on 2-23-2008 at 10:31 am
philip carteret hill (nova scotia politician)
8/13/21-fibonacci sequence
posted by kate on 2-23-2008 at 10:42 am
Alexander Brott - Knighted Canadian conductor and composer
born 3/14/15
first digits of pi. 3.1415
posted by Jake Le Master on 2-23-2008 at 11:04 am
Missy Elliot (yes the rapper) … 7/1/71
kate beat me to the Fibonacci sequence!
posted by Katie on 2-23-2008 at 11:53 am
Phyllis Curtin - American Opera singer and soprano
born 12/3/21
Symmetric
posted by Jake Le Master on 2-23-2008 at 12:05 pm
Rapper 50 cent was born 7/6/76, also the same year as the release of the bicentennial half dollar (50 cent piece).
posted by Nick K on 2-23-2008 at 12:12 pm
Ana Gasteyer was born 4/5/67.
posted by Jill on 2-23-2008 at 12:14 pm
Sorry, I’ve got a couple:
June 6, 1901 (6.6.01) - Surkarno, first president of indonesia. (Twin Prime Constant)
May 6, 1971 (5.6.71) - Chris Shiflett, member of the foo fighters born
January 6, 1918 (1.6.18) - Georg Cantor (german mathematician) DIED (Golden ratio)
January 4, 1914 (1.4.14) - Jean-Pierre Vernant (anthropologist) Born (pythagoras constant)
and last, but not least:
February 7th, 1918 (2.7.18) Markey Robinson - Irish Painter (should do a Feel Art Again about this guy, really).
(Euler’s number, or more simply, e)
Sorry, I got bored and know too many constants. Gotta love minoring in math.
posted by Rose on 2-23-2008 at 12:21 pm
My lucky number is 7, so I looked for 7/7/77 - Imogen Bailey. I think I should get bonus points for her being so hot!
posted by Amanda on 2-23-2008 at 12:23 pm
although not a full date, one famous individual to be born on feb 29 was Fredric from the Pirates of Penzance. Due to the fact that his birth was on a leap year his apprenticeship which would end on his 21st birthday. Do to the tricky buisness of leap years it wouldnt end till he was in his 80s!
posted by max on 2-23-2008 at 12:30 pm
1.6.38 - Max Bruch, German Composer
1638 is the first 4-digit harmonic divisor number
posted by Emily on 2-23-2008 at 12:48 pm
my birthday 2/23/33 which makes me 3/4 of a century today
posted by jerry horn on 2-23-2008 at 12:52 pm
Erik j. Heels- MIT engineer, patent lawyer, born on 6/6/66
posted by bebler on 2-23-2008 at 12:53 pm
Marco Antonio Muniz, the Mexican singer who was pop singer Marc Anthony’s namesake (his real name is also Marco Antonio Muniz), was born on 3/3/33. He was famous for his trio (what else?), Los Tres Aces.
posted by Jason on 2-23-2008 at 12:56 pm
Actress Melinda Culea born on May 5, 1955, 5-5-55
posted by Diane on 2-23-2008 at 1:23 pm
In the interests of ubernerds everywhere, US diplomat David Anderson, former US ambassador to Yugolavia in the 80s, was born on January 3, 1937 (1/3/37).
Also, the 75th US Congress (known for its Neutrality Acts) was also born on that day.
posted by Colin GG on 2-23-2008 at 1:29 pm
Ok, here goes mine!!
My oldest son was born 03/03/03 (due date was (03/08/03), my second son was born 05/05/05 (due date 08/05/05) - both due on the 8th day of their respective month of birth. Here is another interesting bit of info. My eldest shares his birth month (March) with his dad and my youngest shares birth day (5th day) with me.
Pleople don’t believe it, so I often have to pull out the birth certificates!
posted by wellymom on 2-23-2008 at 1:46 pm
Alexander Salkind (Hollywood producer) born June 2, 1921
That’s 6.02 21, Avogardo’s number.
posted by adrian f on 2-23-2008 at 2:11 pm
March 13, 1937 or 31337
The possibly not so very Fofó Iosefa Fiti Sunia, Democrat U.S. House of Representatives 1981-88, now reported to be living, along with Charlie the Tuna, in Pago Pago, American Samoa.
posted by AMR on 2-23-2008 at 2:12 pm
Steve Vai, American guitarist extraordinaire, born on 6/6/60. His sixth birthday was 6/6/66.
posted by Wolf on 2-23-2008 at 2:16 pm
My friend’s second daughter was born on 6/6/06. On that date I finally got to see Blondie in concert at Wolftrap in Vienna VA. I must say that is a VERY memorable day for me.
posted by stef on 2-23-2008 at 2:22 pm
If this one gets chosen as random, throw it out because I don’t have evidence, but my grandpa would always rattle off how he was born on February 29th, 1944 at 9:22 am
2.29.44 9:22
Pretty nifty palindrome.
posted by Rose on 2-23-2008 at 2:33 pm
3/14/84 - 3*14=42
*2
—-
84
posted by Mike Anderson on 2-23-2008 at 3:15 pm
Thomas Arne composer of Rule Britannia:
birthday 551778. Well, 55178 upside down spells “bliss” (which is fitting for the song).
posted by Pierre Rappolt on 2-23-2008 at 3:52 pm
Jordin Tootoo, hockey player for the Nashville Predators, wears number 22 and was born on February 2nd…
posted by Alex on 2-23-2008 at 3:56 pm
Only works for month and day, but Albert Einstein was also born on March 14th (3.14) however, in 1879, not 1915.
Another, 2.7.18 Northern Irish painter Markey Robinson (the mathematical constant e 2.718… )
posted by Cy Guy on 2-23-2008 at 4:00 pm
3/9/27 (increases by 3 squared) is the birthday of:
Hans Ludwig Schilling, composer
Jack Jensen, baseball player, AL MVP 1958
and John Beckwith, composer
posted by Jess on 2-23-2008 at 4:06 pm
Jules Verne was born on 2/8/28.
I, myself, was born on 8/4/84.
posted by Kandice on 2-23-2008 at 4:25 pm
1.9.44 (Jan. 9, 1944) - Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin - his birthday is the same as the year he was born (1944 is also an achilles number)
posted by Emily on 2-23-2008 at 4:30 pm
David Yost (the original Blue Power Ranger) was born 1/7/71…again, another palindrome.
Also, Adam Sandler was born 9/9/66 which is sorta cool.
posted by Amauriel on 2-23-2008 at 5:01 pm
My family has a couple unusual dates -
My sister 6/7/77
My cousin 7/8/88
I was born on 4/15 (income tax day - my mom almost called me Iris)
My mom was born on 3/17 (St. Paddy’s day)
posted by Beth on 2-23-2008 at 5:10 pm
The only boxer to hold world titles in three weight classes simultaneously, Henry Armstrong was born 12/12/12. He finished his career with a record of 150 wins, 21 losses, 9 draws, with 100 KOs.
posted by Tim Wright on 2-23-2008 at 5:24 pm
1/1/11
Hank Greenberg, Hall of Fame 1st baseman, Detroit Tigers (b. January 1, 1911)
posted by AMR on 2-23-2008 at 5:30 pm
7/6/54 - Allyce Beaslry - Ms. Depesto from Moonlighting
4/3/21 - Harry Landers - Tv’s Ben Casey
posted by Mike on 2-23-2008 at 5:41 pm
I was born 6/15/60. If you add the 1+5 you get 6/6/6 (that creeps me out). My husband was born 9/22/59. If you add the 2+2+5 you get 9, so its 9/9/9 and 9 flipped over is 6. OK, OK maybe not quite what your looking for, but amazing, at least to me. Can’t come up with anything for the kids, but my middle child was born October, 1998, or 10/9-8
posted by Carol on 2-23-2008 at 6:25 pm
Mimi Kennedy, an actress born 9/25/1949 (9/25/49–all square numbers, 3^2, 5^2, 7^2).
For fun, you can always go to IMDb and look up using the ‘on this day’ function. On the right, there is a box that says ‘Born Today’–if you click on all birthdays, then you can select by day (e.g., Feb. 23) and see everyone in their database born on that day.
posted by Amanda on 2-23-2008 at 6:27 pm
Canadian opera singer/teacher, Bruce Boyce: 9/02/10, as in Beverly Hills.
posted by Aaron on 2-23-2008 at 6:40 pm
My daughter’s birthday is May 5, 2005 (05/05/05), and is just a few days before my own b-day. I know she’s not famous now, but give her 20 yr’s or so and you never know! Either way we always have a good reason for a great Cinco De Mayo party!!
posted by Amanda on 2-23-2008 at 7:34 pm
Bob Griese (2/3/45) pro quarterback whose record in the Super Bowl is 2 wins and 3 losses.
posted by Amber on 2-23-2008 at 8:27 pm
Anders Nøhr is a Danish professional footballer, who currently plays for the Danish Superliga side AC Horsens.
His birthday is 3/9/81
(3^2=9, 9^2=81, 81/3=27, 27/3=9)
posted by Bailey M on 2-23-2008 at 8:29 pm
Pythagorean Triple
John Newton 7-24-25
posted by katie on 2-23-2008 at 8:55 pm
Not a birthdate but my wife and I have hosted a party on the ‘unusual’ date annually since 2001, i.e. 01/01/01, 02/02/02, etc. This year we’ll have a cookout on August 8th. No particular theme, just a fun invitation to have our friends over for no reason but fellowship.
posted by Jim on 2-23-2008 at 9:26 pm
Megan beat me to Heinlein’s birthday. Equally symmetrical is Carmen Miranda’s, 09/09/09.
Football associations lead me to Bob Griese (2/3/45) and to Craig T. Hall (actor, of Coach fame) with a 4 digit match: 4/4/44.
My favorite bends the rules a bit. It is Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, the Indian born Nobel Prize winning astrophusicist (for determining which stars would collapse to neutron stars (we’re safe, btw). Until he moved to the U. S. he would have written his birdate as 19/10/1910.
posted by Arthur on 2-23-2008 at 10:07 pm
Ralph Manza was born on 12-1-21. Mirror effect!
posted by Stephanie on 2-23-2008 at 10:23 pm
Freddie Steele, born Frederick Earle Steele, born on 12/12/12.
was recognized as middleweight champion of the world between 1936 and 1938. Steele was nicknamed “The Tacoma Assassin”
He only lost two fights in the first ten years of boxing - WOW
posted by Patty on 2-23-2008 at 10:38 pm
Since I see there is also another boxer who was born 12/12/12, I want to add that Freddie Steele became a Hollywood actor in the 40’s after his boxing career. Shots of his footwork can be seen in “Gentleman Jim” with Errol Flynn.
He’s also in the boxing hall of fame…
:)
posted by Patty on 2-23-2008 at 11:17 pm
The main character from Pirates of Penzance was also born on February 29. It was why his captain refused to release him from servitude on his 21st birthday because officially he wasn’t yet 21 while technically he was.
posted by Vanessa on 2-24-2008 at 12:26 am
Sigmund Freud was born on 5/6/56 (1856, that is… but it is interesting that, at age 18 Freud began to study “psychodynamics,” a subject introduced the same year by his advisor in medical school).
posted by Audra on 2-24-2008 at 1:46 am
British Musician Steven Stapleton - 2/3/57 (first four prime numbers)
posted by Zach on 2-24-2008 at 3:25 pm
Estonian Actor Marko Matvere was born 2/4/68
posted by Zach on 2-24-2008 at 3:29 pm
I’m not famous but my birthday is 6/5/66
posted by John on 2-24-2008 at 3:36 pm
I suppose there really isn’t a way for you to verify this, and he’s not famous, but my son’s birthday is 3/4/05 …I just remember it as 3/4/5
posted by Mike on 2-24-2008 at 6:17 pm
I was born on 11.03.1978. Yeah I know..
Spooky!
posted by ian on 2-24-2008 at 9:05 pm
My birthday and my first four digits of my social security number are the same….that’s not supposed to happen….it’s interesting to me anyway :)
posted by Patty on 2-24-2008 at 11:02 pm
My daughter Trysten- 2/22/02. She’s famous- not right now, but she will be!
posted by Rowen on 2-25-2008 at 12:01 am
Not famous, but my son was born on 2/1/00. Not since 12/11/10, 90 years, could you have a descending pattern like this.
posted by David Spaulding on 2-25-2008 at 8:15 am
Me! 7.12.94
7×12=84
posted by LorinJuliet on 2-25-2008 at 9:47 am
Me, I am famous in my own world! 9/8/76
posted by Shannon on 2-25-2008 at 10:30 am
My daughter’s name is Novalee (named in part for the Chevy Nova). Her birth time was 4:42 pm, same as the Olds 442. I find the car references ironic!
posted by Jaime on 2-25-2008 at 11:43 am
February 3rd, 1904
02/03/04, Charlie “Pretty Boy” Floyd, bank robber, killer, and an FBI Most Wanted criminal, was born
posted by Brittany on 2-25-2008 at 12:40 pm
Hmmm…no one mentioned 8/8/08. I guess this is more of a cultural thing. 8 is a like number in the chinese culture. So 888 is like the 777.
Even better is 1/6/08. 168 is also a “lucky” chinese number because when said 1-6-8 in chinese, it sounds similar to “One road to prosperity.” So there you have it.
On the negative side, the number 4 sounds similar to ‘die’(as in death, not the process of coloring), so 4/4/04 was not a good day.
posted by Nick on 2-25-2008 at 1:16 pm
Ok, not such a famous person, but really cool:
My son was born 3/3/96
3*3 = 9
or
3+3 = 6
or circular 3*3=9(-3)=6(-3)= 3 so we get to start all over…
posted by Jeffrey on 2-25-2008 at 4:46 pm
My mom was june tenth, 1960, 6*10=60. My sister and I were both born on the 13th, september and october respectively, so my lucky number has always been 13. My fiance’s birthday is 12/1, so I guess he’ll do.
posted by jenny on 2-25-2008 at 4:59 pm
Nick, 8 being a lucky Chinese number is why the Olympics in Beijing are starting on 8/8/08. Also, why cell phone numbers in China that have 8’s in them are more expensive, and the ones with 4’s in them are cheaper.(I kid you not- my cell number was cheap, no 8’s, but a bunch of 4’s!)
But I digress… I always thought that my birthdate was cool sounding, 3/22/82, but there’s nothing mathematically significant about it. The kids I nannied for, the youngest two were born on 4/5 and 5/6 (the years don’t follow the pattern, but it’s still cool.)
posted by greenstrawberries on 2-28-2008 at 2:54 am