Famous people born on August 9 — and what else happened that day
If your birthday is August 9, you share it with Whitney Houston, Bob Cousy, Anna Kendrick — and you were born under Leo, the sign of the warm, confident, and born for the spotlight.
Birthday basics for August 9
Leo ♌
Zodiac sign
Peridot
Birthstone
Gladiolus
Birth flower
221st
Day of the year
August 9 is the 221st day of the year (222nd in leap years), with 144 days still to come.
Famous people born on August 9
Whitney Houston — American singer and actress, one of the best-selling music artists of all time (born 1963).
Bob Cousy — American basketball Hall of Famer and Boston Celtics point guard (born 1928).
Anna Kendrick — American actress and singer known for the Pitch Perfect films (born 1985).
Also sharing the day:
P. L. Travers (b. 1899) — Australian-British author who created Mary Poppins.
Sam Elliott (b. 1944) — American actor beloved for his gravelly voice and cowboy roles.
Deion Sanders (b. 1967) — American star who played in both the Super Bowl and the World Series.
August 9 in history
1854 — Henry David Thoreau published his classic book Walden.
1936 — Jesse Owens won his fourth gold medal at the Berlin Summer Olympics.
1974 — Gerald Ford was sworn in as U.S. president following Richard Nixon's resignation.
1173 — Construction began on the bell tower of Pisa Cathedral — now famous as the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
1944 — Smokey Bear made his debut on U.S. Forest Service fire-prevention posters.
1965 — Singapore became an independent nation, now celebrated as its National Day.
August 9 birthday questions
What zodiac sign is August 9?
Anyone born on August 9 is a Leo — warm, confident, and born for the spotlight.
What is the birthstone for August 9?
The birthstone for a August 9 birthday is Peridot, and the birth flower is the Gladiolus.
Who is the most famous person born on August 9?
Whitney Houston is among the best known — American singer and actress, one of the best-selling music artists of all time (born 1963).
What happened on August 9?
In 1854, Henry David Thoreau published his classic book Walden.
What day of the year is August 9?
August 9 is the 221st day of the year (222nd in leap years), with 144 days still to come.
Make their day unforgettable
Know someone born on August 9? See the full story of their exact birthday — the headlines, the #1 song, what things cost — and turn it into a personalized front-page newspaper they can keep.