July 12th Birthdays

If you were born on July 12th you share a celebrity birthday with these famous people:

Bill Cosby (nee William Henry Cosby Jr.)

American stand-up comedian, actor of movies (Ghost Dad) & TV (Dr. Cliff Huxtable on The Cosby Show; Hilton Lucas on Cosby; Alexander Scott on I Spy; The Electric Company; Chet Kincaid on The Bill Cosby Show; Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids; The Cosby Mysteries), born July 12, 1937. (Bill Cosby 1965 I Spy) 

Ann Granger (nee Patricia Ann Granger)

British romance writer (A Poor Relation; Summer Heiress) and mystery novelist (A Restless Evil, Mitchell & Markby series; Risking It All, Fran Varady series; A Mortal Curiosity, Lizzie Martin series; Dead in the Water, Campbell & Carter series), born July 12, 1939. (Ann Granger 2009 Photo: Avjoska)

Denise Nicholas (ex of Gilbert Moses, Bill Withers, Jim Hill)

American screenwriter and actress of TV (Liz McIntyre on Room 222; Harriet DeLong Gillespie on In the Heat of the Night; Baby…I’m Back!; N.Y.P.D.; The Love Boat; The F.B.I.; Police Story), movies (Capricorn One; Ghost Dad; Blacula), novelist (Freshwater Road), born July 12, 1944. (Denise Nicholas 1970s Photo)

Cheryl Ladd (nee Cheryl Jean Stoppelmoor; ex of David Ladd)

American singer, actress of TV (Kris Munroe on Charlie’s Angels; Josie and the Pussycats; One West Waikiki; Jillian on Las Vegas; American Crime Story) & films (Purple Hearts; Millenium; Kentucky Woman; Poison Ivy), born July 12, 1951. Mother of Jordan Ladd. (Cheryl Ladd 1973 Satan’s School For Girls)

Jamey Sheridan 

American actor of stage, TV (Law & Order: Criminal Intent; Trauma; Homeland; Smash; Shannon’s Deal; Chicago Hope; Arrow) and movies (All I Want for Christmas; Whispers in the Dark; Stanley & Iris; Cradle Will Rock; Sully; Driven; Spotlight), born July 12, 1951. (Jamey Sheridan Painting: A. Hamilton)

Mel Harris (nee Mary Ellen Harris)

American actress of TV (Hope Murdoch Steadman on thirtysomething; Saints & Sinners; Something So Right; Stargate SG-1; JAG; Imposters; Shut Eye) and movies (K-9; Wanted: Dead or Alive; Raising Cain; Purple Heart), born July 12, 1956. Ex of Cotter Smith, David Kennerly. (Mel Harris 1989 Promo: ABC)

Buddy Foster (nee Lucius Fisher Foster IV)

American child actor of television (Mike Jones on Mayberry R.F.D. and The Andy Griffith Show; Johnny Dow on Hondo; Adam-12) and movies (Sixteen; Foxes), author (Foster Child), and older brother of Jodie Foster, born July 12, 1957. (Buddy Foster 1970 Mayberry R.F.D. Photo: CBS Television Network)

Tonya Lee Williams (nee Tonya Maxine Williams)

British-Canadian hostess & actress of TV (Dr. Olivia Barber on The Young and the Restless & The Bold and the Beautiful; Linda Dukes on Generations; Polka Dot Door; Check It Out; Falcon Crest; She’s the Mayor), born July 12, 1958. (Tonya Lee Williams 2011 Photo: Jesse Grant / WireImage Canadian Film Centre) 

Judi Evans (aka Judi Evans Luciano)

American actress of movies & TV (Adrienne Johnson Kiriakis on Days of Our Lives since 1986; Paulina Cory McKinnon Carlino on Another World; Beth Raines on Guiding Light; Maeve Stone on As the World Turns; Venice the Series; The Bay), born July 12, 1964. (Judi Evans 1987 Days of Our Lives Promo: NBC)

Lisa Nicole Carson 

American actress of TV (Renee Raddick on Ally McBeal & Ally; Carla Simmons on ER; The Apollo Comedy Hour; The New Edition Story; Aftershock: Earthquake in New York) and movies (Devil in a Blue Dress; Eve’s Bayou; White Lies; Love Jones; Jason’s Lyric), born July 12, 1969. (Lisa Nicole Carson Painting: A. Hamilton)

Jake Wood 

English actor of TV (Max Branning on East Enders since 1990; Strictly Come Dancing; Red Dwarf; The Bill; Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple: They Do It With Mirrors) & films (The Illusionist; The Aryan Couple; The Wiz Kid; Dad Savage; Flesh+Blood), born July 12, 1972. (Jake Wood 2018 Photo: Matt Deegan)

Kristi Yamaguchi (married Bret Hedican)

World Skating Hall of Fame American figure skater (1992 Olympic singles gold; 2X singles World Champion; 1989 & 1990 US pairs national champion with Rudy Galindo; 4X World Professional Figure Skating champ; Stars on Ice), & author, born July 12, 1971. (Kristi Yamaguchi 2009: The Heart Truth)

(Jean Hersholt 1924 | Milton Berle 1948)

Happy Birthday to everyone celebrating their birthday on July 12th!

Remember These July 12th Famous Birthdays

Richard Simmons (nee Milton Teagle Simmons)

American comedian, actor (Hercules; Fish Hooks), fitness and weight-loss video guru (Sweatin’ to the Oldies), author (Never-Say-Diet Book; Sweetie Pie), television personality & host (The Richard Simmons Show; General Hospital; Body Language; Super Password; The New Hollywood Squares) (born July 12, 1948 – died July 13, 2024; age 76). (Richard Simmons 2007 Photo:Del Far)

Gordon Pinsent (married Charmion King; father of Leah Pinsent)

Canadian writer and actor of TV (Fraser Sr. on Due South; Hap Shaughnessy on The Red Green Show; Babar; The Pillars of the Earth; The Forest Rangers) and films (The Rowdyman; The Thomas Crown Affair; Silence of the North; Away From Her; The Shipping News; Saint Ralph; The Grand Seduction) (born July 12, 1930 – died Feb. 25, 2023; age 92). (Gordon Pinsent 1970 Dan August)

Christine McVie  (nee Christine Anne Perfect; ex of John McVie)

Grammy-winning English keyboardist, songwriter and singer solo, and with Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band Fleetwood Mac (You Make Loving Fun; Say You Love Me; Don’t Stop; Over My Head; Think About Me; Got a Hold on Me; Little Lies; Dreams; The Chain) (born July 12, 1943 – died Nov. 30, 2022; age 79). Ex-partner of Dennis Wilson. (Christine McVie 1977: Warner Bros. Records)  

Milton Berle (nee Mendel Berlinger)

Emmy Award-winning American stand-up comedian & actor of stage, TV (Texaco Star Theater; The Milton Berle Show; Batman; General Hospital; The Hollywood Palace; The Love Boat), and movies (Over My Dead Body; It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World; Lepke) (born July 12, 1908 – died Mar. 27, 2002; age 93). Milton Berle died of colon cancer. (Milton Berle 1943 WirePhoto)

Keith Andes (nee John Charles Andes; father of Mark Andes)

American actor of radio, TV (Jeff Morgan on Paradise Bay; This Man Dawson), and films (Split Second; Back from Eternity; Interlude; Pillars of the Sky; Damn Citizen; Model for Murder; Blackbeard, the Pirate; Clash by Night; Project X; Away All Boats; The Second Greatest Sex; The Farmer’s Daughter) (born July 12, 1920 – died Nov. 11, 2005; age 85). (Keith Andes 1955 A Life at Stake)

Jean Hersholt

Danish-American Academy Award-winning humanitarian, actor of radio, TV, & films (Heidi; The Crime of the Century; The Country Doctor; Meet Dr. Christian; Private Lives; Grand Hotel; Transatlantic; New Morals for Old), and translator (Hans Christian Andersen books (born July 12, 1886 – died June 2, 1956; age 69). Jean Hersholt died of cancer. (Jean Hersholt Photo: kate gabrielle)  

Louis B. Mayer (nee Lazar Meir; father of Irene Mayer Selznick)

Russian-Canadian-American producer, MGM Studios co-founder & head (Gone with the Wind; The Wizard of Oz), who “discovered” Greta Garbo, Hedy Lamarr, Norma Shearer, Greer Garson, Marg and Gower Champion, and Mario Lanza. (born July 12, 1884 – died Oct. 29, 1957; age 73). Father-in-law of William Goetz; ex-father-in-law of David O. Selznick. (Louis B. Mayer 1921)

Oscar Hammerstein II

American Pulitzer, Tony & Academy Award-winning theatrical producer, director, and songwriter (Some Enchanted Evening) of film &  theatre (Show Boat; Oklahoma! Carousel; South Pacific; The King and I; The Sound of Music) (born July 12, 1895 – died Aug. 23, 1960; age 65). Oscar Hammerstein II died of stomach cancer. (Oscar Hammerstein II 1940s: Z Arthur) 

Jetta Goudal (nee Julie Henriette Goudeket; married Harold Grieve)

Dutch-American stage & film actress (White Gold; The Cardboard Lover; Lady of the Pavements; The Spaniard; Salome of the Tenements; The Coming of Amos; The Bright Shawl; Her Man o’ War; The Road to Yesterday; Business and Pleasure; The Green Goddess; Paris at Midnight; The Forbidden Woman) (born July 12, 1891 – died Jan. 4, 1985; age 93). (Jetta Goudal 1927: Cinelandia)

Buckminster Fuller (nee Richard Buckminster Fuller; “Bucky“)

American architect, designer and inventor (geodesic domes), professor, and author (Synergetics: Explorations in the Geometry of Thinking; Critical Path; Nine Chains to the Moon; Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth; I Seem to Be a Verb; Grunch of Giants; Inventions) (born July 12, 1895 – died July 1, 1983; age 87). Buckminster Fuller died of a heart attack. (Buckminster Fuller Photo)

Andrew Wyeth (son of N.C. Wyeth)

American regionalist artist (local landscapes and people), realist painter in watercolors, dry brush, or egg tempera paints (Christina’s World; The Helga pictures; Kuerner farm paintings) (born July 12, 1917 – died Jan. 16, 2009; age 91). Andrew Wyeth died after a short illness. (Andrew Wyeth 2007 Photo: Michael Stewart / US Government)

Joe Higgins

American actor of TV (Arrest and Trial; The Rifleman; The Big Valley; The Detectives; The Monkees; Green Acres; Daktari; Gunsmoke; That Girl; The Guns of Will Sonnett; My Three Sons; 87th Precinct; The Twilight Zone) and movies (Sixpack Annie; Namu, the Killer Whale) (born July 12, 1925 – died June 15, 1998; age 72). Joe Higgins died of a heart attack. (Joe Higgins 1976 Movin’ On)

Tod Browning (nee Charles Albert Browning Jr.)

American vaudeville & circus performer, actor, writer, & director of silent & other films (Dracula; Miracles For Sale; Mark of the Vampire; Freaks; Iron Man; Outside the Law; The Thirteenth Chair; Where East is East; West of Zanzibar; The Unknown; The Show; White Tiger; The Blackbird; The Virgin of Stamboul) (born July 12, 1880 – died Oct. 6, 1962; age 82). (Tod Browning 1918 Photo)

Vera Ralston (nee Věra Helena Hrubá; aka Vera Hrubá Ralston)

Czech-American competitive figure skater and movie actress (Lake Placid Serenade; I, Jane Doe; Surrender; The Fighting Kentuckian; Angel on the Amazon; Plainsman and the Lady; Dakota; Wyoming; The Flame; The Notorious Mr. Monks; Fair Wind to Java; Storm Over Lisbon) (born July 12, 1919 – died Feb. 9, 2003; age 83). Married Herbert J. Yates. (Vera Hrubá Ralston 1944)

George Eastman

American businessman, inventor (film in roll form; the Kodak Black camera in 1988), founder of the Eastman Kodak Company, philanthropist and founder of the Eastman School of Music (born July 12, 1854 – died Mar. 14, 1932; age 77). George Eastman had a painful spinal disorder and shot himself. (George Eastman 1917 Photo: B. C. Forbes Publishing Company)

Pierre Berton

Canadian non-fiction historical and Canadiana author (The Great Depression; The Last Spike; Klondike), editor (Macleans; Star Weekly), journalist and TV personality (Close-Up; Front Page Challenge; The Pierre Berton Show) (born July 12, 1920 – died Nov. 30, 2004; age 84). Pierre Berton died of heart failure. (Pierre Berton Photo: Canada’s National History Society e-Mediakits.com)

Hunt Stromberg (father of Hunt Stromberg Jr.)

Academy Award-winning American director & producer of silent films and classic movies (The Great Ziegfeld; Marie Antoinette; Pride and Prejudice; The Women; Too Late for Tears; Lured; Dishonored Lady; The Strange Woman; The Painted Veil; The Thin Man; Naughty Marietta; Bombshell; Treasure Island) (born July 12, 1894 – died Aug. 23, 1968; age 74). . (Hunt Stromberg 1942 Photo)

Josiah Wedgwood (grandfather of Charles Darwin)

English abolitionist, pottery designer and innovator (black basalt stoneware; green glaze; creamware; Jasperware), retail & marketing pioneer (direct mail; free delivery; catalogues, money back guarantee), Wedgwood Company founder (table ware – Queen’s Ware; Royal Pattern) (born July 12, 1730 – died Jan. 3, 1795; age 64). (Josiah Wedgwood 1780: George Stubbs)

Donald E. Westlake (nee Donald Edwin Westlake; aka Richard Stark)

Edgar Award-winning American non-fiction writer, science fiction author, and comic crime fiction novelist (The Hunter; The Seventh; The Hot Rock; Cops and Robbers; The Outfit; Bank Shot; The Busy Body; God Save the Mark) (born July 12, 1933 – died Dec. 31, 2008; age 75). Cause of death for Donald Westlake was a heart attack. (Donald E. Westlake 2006 Photo: I, Dinkley)

Henry David Thoreau

American abolitionist, philosopher, naturalist, poet (Poems of Nature), essayist (Civil Disobedience; A Plea for Captain John Brown) & writer (Walden, or, A Walk in the Woods; A Yankee in Canada, with Anti-Slavery and Reform Papers; A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers) (born July 12, 1817 – died May 6, 1862; age 44). (Henry David Thoreau 1856: B.D. Maxham)

Amedeo Modigliani (married Jeanne Hébuterne)

Italian artist whose modernist drawings, sculptures, and paintings (Reclining Nude; Portrait of Jeanne Hebuterne, Seated; Iris Tree) sold posthumously for as high as $170.4 million dollars (Nu couché, 2015); he was poverty-stricken during his lifetime (born July 12, 1884 – died Jan. 24, 1920; age 35). Amedeo Modigliani died of tubercular meningitis. (Amedeo Modigliani 1918)

Barry Mason (nee John Barry Mason)

English songwriter solo & with Les Reed for Engelbert Humperdinck, Petula Clark; The Drifters, Elvis Presley, Perry Como, Connie Francis, Tom Jones, Barbara Streisand, The Dave Clark Five, etc. (The Last Waltz; Delilah; Love Grows [Where My Rosemary Goes]; I Pretend; Here It Comes Again) (born July 12, 1935 – died Apr. 16, 2021; age 85). (Barry Mason Painting: A. Hamilton)

*Images are original creations ©2023 A. Hamilton, used by permission, public domain, and / or Creative Commons licensed, unless otherwise noted*