Special Sub-Topic: Famous People Born in August Click Here To Play: Famous People Born in August

This famous film director, noted for his historic and Biblical epics, was born on August 12, 1881.

Cecil B. DeMille. This great American director is considered one of the pioneers of filmmaking. His first production, a shooting of the play "The Squaw Man", was begun in 1913 and was the first full-length film (six reels). Some of his more famous films include "Samson and Delilah", "Cleopatra", and "Union Pacific".

John Galsworthy was born on August 14, 1867. In 1932 he won a Nobel Prize in which category?

Literature. John Galsworthy (1867-1933) was a British author and dramatist who specialized in satire and tales of the English middle class. He is best known for the series of works known as "The Forsyte Saga", which chronicled the lives of three generations of a middle-class British family.

This man, considered by many to be the most successful jockey in history, was born on August 19, 1931.

Willie Shoemaker. Willie Shoemaker was born in Texas in 1931. He weighed only two and a half pounds at birth and had to be placed in a shoebox in an oven to keep him alive! He went on to become history's most successful jockey, winning 8,833 races and becoming the first to win over $100 million. In 1991 he became a quadriplegic as the result of an auto accident.

The South American revolutionary Bernardo O'Higgins was born on August 20, 1776. Which nation is he known for helping to gain independence?

Chile. Bernardo O'Higgins was born in Chile, the illegitimate son of a man who became the viceroy of Peru. He studied in England, where he met revolutionaries and was influenced by their ideas. He returned to Chile in 1801 to govern his estate upon his father's death, and became a member of the Chilean congress in 1811. In 1817 O'Higgins was chosen as General-in-Chief in Chile's battle with Peru, and was later elected supreme director. He resigned this position in 1823 and spent the rest of his days in exile in Peru.

Aubrey Beardsley celebrated his birthday on August 21 (he was born in 1872). As what was he best known?

Illustrator. Aubrey Beardsley was a British illustrator known for his curvilinear, ornamental illustrations popularized by the Art Nouveau movement. He gained notoriety with his erotic illustrations of Oscar Wilde's "Salome". Sadly, he died of tuberculosis at age 25.

This female television actor, best known for her portrayal of "Rhoda", was born on August 22, 1941.

Valerie Harper & Harper. Valerie Harper was born in Suffern, New York, in 1941. Although she has played many roles both on television and on stage, she will always be remembered as Rhoda Morgenstern, first on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and later on the spinoff "Rhoda". Today the four-time Emmy winner is still acting and is an advocate for the homeless.

American microbiologist Albert Sabin was born on August 26, 1906. He is best known for developing the vaccine for which disease?

Polio. This is somewhat of a trick question. Jonas Salk is usually associated with the polio vaccine, as he was the first to develop it, in 1955. However, Sabin improved upon the vaccine in 1960 with the introduction of a vaccine made from live but weakened polio virus (Salk's had used killed virus).

This American physician, poet, and humorist was born on August 29, 1809. He specialized in patriotic poems, the most famous of which is probably "Old Ironsides".

Oliver Wendell Holmes. Oliver Wendell Holmes was a busy man. In addition to serving as the Dean of Harvard Medical School, he wrote many poems, and a novel, "Elsie Venner". His son, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr, served on the US Supreme Court for thirty years.

World-famous musician Itzhak Perlman was born in Israel on August 31, 1945. Which instrument is he best known for playing?

violin. Mr. Perlman began his extensive career in 1964. One of the achievements of which he is most proud is his collaboration with John Williams on the soundtrack of the film "Schindler's List", in which he performed violin solos.

Benjamin Ward, born on August 10, 1926, died on June 10, 2002. In his illustrious career, he was all of these BUT:

Mayor of New York City. This was one busy guy! He retired in 1989 as New York City's Police Commissioner, but continued to teach law and criminal justice to college students.

Nathaniel Greene, a general, was born on August 7, 1742. In what war did he serve as a General?

American Revolution. Nathaniel Greene was born in Rhode Island to a Quaker family. He was elected four times to the Rhode Island assembly, but is best known as a Revolutionary War general. His best success was against the British in North and South Carolina in 1780 and 1782, near the end of the war.

This lovely movie star was born on August 8, 1923. Some of her films include "Neptune's Daughter" and "Million-Dollar Mermaid".

Esther Williams & Williams. Esther Williams is best known as the bathing beauty of Hollywood. She joined the Aquacade synchronized swimmers and got her first role in 1942's "Andy Hardy's Double Life". She went on to star in several MGM swimming and music extravaganzas such as "Million-Dollar Mermaid". Her autobiography, "Million Dollar Mermaid", is a fun and interesting book.

This American journalist was born on August 4, 1920. She is best known for her coverage of the White House press conferences and as the UPI's Bureau Chief in 1974.

Helen Thomas. Ms. Thomas was somewhat of a pioneer in her field, as women were not as well-respected in political journalism in the 1970s as they are today. Her memoir is called "Front Row at the White House: My Life and Times".

American painter John Sloan was born in Pennsylvania on August 2, 1871. With what school of art is he most closely identified?

Ash Can. Sloan was noted for his realistic urban paintings, which gave rise to the lovely term "Ash Can School". His paintings, which include "McSorley's Bar" and "Backyards, Greenwich Village", are simple portrayals of working people in the city.

Maria Mitchell was born on Nantucket, Massachusetts, USA on August 1, 1818. She is best known as America's first female what?

Astronomer. Maria's career as an astronomer began in 1847, when she discovered a comet that was named "Miss Mitchell's Comet". In 1848 she became the first female member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Along with her astronomical research, she also worked with many women's rights activists. In 1994, she was elected to the National Women's Hall of Fame.