Test your knowledge and see just how many famous Iowans you know. The first Iowan in space, the co-inventor of Rice Krispies Treats and a Nobel prize winner — if you don’t know their names, you will now.
Here’s some famous Iowans you ought to know, and some you probably do.
17 prominent Iowans of the past
It would be impossible to compile a list everyearth-moving achievementaccomplished bythose who called Iowa their place of birth, but here are 17highlights for the history books.
Herbert Hoover
Born:West Branch
Lifetime:1874-1964
What he's known for:The 31st president of the United States
Less than three decades after Iowa became a state, Herbert Hoover was born in the eastern Iowa town of West Branch, the child of a blacksmith. Before his presidency,Hoover graduated from Stanford andwitnessed the BoxerRebellion in China. He served a single term as president from 1929 to 1933.
Otto Frederick Rohwedder
Born:Davenport
Lifetime:1880-1960
What he's known for:Thecommercial bread-slicing machine
It would be inaccurate to sayOtto Frederick Rohwedder invented the best thing since sliced bread since, well, Rohwedder effectively did invent sliced bread. In 1928,despite being a jeweler by trade and losing some of his initial plans in a Monmouth factory fire, Rohweddercreated a device that sliced and wrapped loaves of bread.
Harry Hopkins
Born:Sioux City
Lifetime:1890-1946
What he's famous for:Advisor toFranklin D.Roosevelt
Born in Sioux Cityand a1912 graduate of Grinnell College, Hopkins grew up to work on remedying the ripple effects of the Great Depression andbecome an advisor to Franklin D. Roosevelt. After Roosevelt became president in 1933, he named Hopkins the administrator of theFederal Emergency Relief Administrationand, when the United States entered World War II, Hopkins became a key figure in the efforts of the Alliedpowers. After surviving stomach cancer,Hopkinsdied due to liver failuremonths after receiving theDistinguished Service Medalfrom President Harry S. Truman.
Grant Wood
Born:Anamosa
Lifetime:1891-1942
What he's known for:American painterwho created "American Gothic"
Grant Woodstudied various art forms in France and Germany through the 1920sand went on to display his most recognizable work,"American Gothic," in the Art Institute of Chicagoin 1930. Wood went on to teach at the University of Iowa from 1935 to 1940, andduring thattime he instructed a young Elizabeth Catlett.
W. Edwards Deming
Born:Sioux City
Lifetime:1900-1993
What he's famous for:Statistician and educator
Sioux City's WilliamEdwards Deming made his way into the field of statistical analysis to achievebetter industrial quality control. In the 1950s, Deming'sskillshelped Japan as the nation economicallyrecovered from the fallout of World War II and became the namesake forThe Deming Prize, an annualaward given to Japanese corporations with exceptional quality control.
Meredith Willson
Born: Mason City
Lifetime: 1902-1984
What he’s famous for: Composer of “The Music Man”
Robert Meredith Willsonwas himselfa music man from a young age whenhe began playing flute in the Mason City Municipal Band,setting him on track to begin his musical career. In 1958, Willson'smusical "The Music Man," the most widely known of his works, was givenaTony Awardfor Best Musical.
Leon 'Bix'Beiderbecke
Born:Davenport
Lifetime:1903-1931
What he's famous for:Jazz musician
Leon Beiderbecke isa Davenport-born musician more widely known under the name "Bix." As a jazz musician,Beiderbecke became known forthe quality of his improvisation in hisperformances. He joined theJean Goldkette groupin Detroitin the latter half of the 1920s, but, only a handful of years later, died after suffering fromlobar pneumonia at the age of 28.
Mildred Day
Born: Durham, a hamlet near Knoxville
Lifetime: 1903-1996
What she’s known for: Helping create Rice Krispies Treats
Mildred Day,born Harriet Mildred Ghrist, is an Iowan credited with helping to create Rice Krispies Treats after taking a job in Battle Creek, Michigan, with the Kellogg's cereal company. In that job,she and co-workerMalitta Jensen would develop the recipe for Rice Krispies Treatsfeatured on boxes of the cereal in 1941.
Mildred Wirt Benson
Born: Ladora
Lifetime: 1905-2002
What she's known for:Penned many of the original Nancy Drew books
Mildred Wirt Benson is one of many authors who have taken onthe pseudonym "Carolyn Keene" to write some of the earliest Nancy Drew mystery novels published since 1930. The University of Iowa graduate pennednot only the first teen sleuth adventure "The Secret of the Old Clock," but was also responsible for 22of the first 25Nancy Drew books.
John Wayne
Born:Winterset
Lifetime:1907-1979
What he's known for:Oscar-winning actor in American Westerns
BornMarion Michael Morrison, the actor and director we know as John Wayne only took up the name with his first starring role in the 1930 film "The BigTrail." His five-decade film career that spanned parts in Westerns and war films eventually led to Wayne's Oscar for the 1969 film "True Grit." Ten years later, the actor passed away after complications from stomach cancer.
Norman Borlaug
Born: Cresco
Lifetime: 1914-2009
What he’s famous for: Nobel Peace Prize-winning agronomist
Borlaug waseducated at the University of Minnesota, studying to be a forester and eventually returning to study plant pathology and receive his doctorate. He spent a large portion of his professional life working to solve wheat production problems in Mexico.It was 1970 when Borlaug received the Nobel Peace Prize, recognized for years spent improving food production.
Virginia Christine
Born:Stanton
Lifetime:1920-1996
What she's famous for:Radio and film actress
Originally namedVirginia Kraft, Virginia Christine is perhaps best rememberedasMrs. Olson, a character who appeared in television advertisem*nts for Folgers Coffee. Over the course of her career, she also appeared on television in "The Twilight Zone" and"The Lone Ranger"and in cinema in the1956"Invasion of the Body Snatchers"and "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner,"amongother projects.
Donna Reed
Born:Dennison
Lifetime:1921-1986
What she's known for:Oscar-winning actress who starred in "It's a Wonderful Life"
Born an Iowa farm girl, Donna Reed is most recognizable forherrole as the leading ladyin the 1946 Christmas classic "It's a Wonderful Life." She would later win anAcademy Award in 1954 for Best Supporting Actressin the film "From Here to Eternity," and in 1957 launched the "Donna Reed Show."Shedied of pancreatic cancer just before her 65th birthday in 1986.
Johnny Carson
Born:Corning
Lifetime:1925-2005
What he's known for:Known as the "king of late night"
Following his birth in Corning, Carson's familymoved to Norfolk, Nebraska, while he was still young. After serving in World War II, Carson hostedNBC's "The Tonight Show"from 1962 to 1992 when he handed the reinsover to Jay Leno. Carson is credited with creating the template of a guest couchand studio bands still seen in modern late-night talk shows.His 30-year tenure on the show makes himthe program's longest-serving host since its creation in 1954and earned him the reputation as "king of late night."
Cloris Leachman
Born:Des Moines
Lifetime:1926-2021
What she's known for:Actress who won anAcademy Awardfor her role in“The Last Picture Show”
Cloris Leachman had a vast and varied career that led her to star in multiple television shows from "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" to "Malcolmin the Middle," and movies suchas "Young Frankenstein" and her Oscar-winning rolein "The Last Picture Show." The actress also becamethe namesake forThe Cloris Leachman Excellence in Theater ArtsAward, an honor given annuallyto recognize members of theDes Moines theater community.
R. Walter Cunningham
Born:Creston
Lifetime: 1932-2023
What he's famous for:The first Iowan in space
The idea to propela human outside ofEarth's atmospherewas still the stuff of science fictionwhen Cunningham,bornRonnie Walter Cunningham, cameinto the worldin 1932. However, in 1968, hebecame the first Iowan in space aboard Apollo 7 —the first crewed Apollospace mission— on which he was the lunar module pilot. Cunningham died at 90 in 2023.
Halston
Born: Des Moines
Lifetime: 1932-1990
What he's famous for: Fashion designer known for his minimalistic looks.
American fashion designer Roy Halston Frowick went by Halston and created iconic looks for the who's who of the celebrity world. He became famous after designing the pillbox hat Jacqueline Kennedy wore to the 1961 inauguration of her husband, President John F. Kennedy. The designer shifted to womenswear and created streamlined looks for the likes of Greta Garbo, Anjelica Huston, Lauren Bacall, Elizabeth Taylor, Bianca Jagger and Liza Minnelli. He died in 1990 due to complications of AIDS.
29 famouspeople of the present
Michelle Monaghan
Born: Winthrop, 1976
What she’s known for: Film and television actress in “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” and “True Detective”
After graduating East Buchanan High School in Winthrop, Michelle Monaghan left Iowa to pursue journalism, according to the Chicago Tribune. Her journey would lead her to roles including teacher Kimberly Woods in the early 2000s Fox show “Boston Public,” starring alongside Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer in “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” and Season 1 of HBO’s “True Detective” with Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey.
Ron Livingston
Born: Cedar Rapids, 1967
What he’s known for: Film and television actor in “Band of Brothers” and “Office Space”
Whether you know him as Peter Gibbons in Mike Judge’s cult classic “Office Space,” the unfortunate family man living in a haunted home in “The Conjuring” or Carrie Bradshaw’s ex in “Sex and the City,” Ron Livingston has appeared in dozens of movies and TV shows over his 30-year career. He was nominated for a Golden Globe for his work in the WWII miniseries “Band of Brothers.”
Sharon Needles
Born: Newton, 1981
What she’s known for: Drag performer who appeared in “RuPaul’s Drag Race”
Season 4 winner of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” Sharon Needles, or Aaron Coady, is a drag performer and musician. Needles described that she “fled the cornfields of Iowa” for Pittsburgh, the city that would declare June 12, 2012, as Sharon Needles Day, Out Magazine reported.
David Anthony Higgins
Born: Des Moines, 1961
What he’s know for: Actor who appeared on “Ellen” and “Mike & Molly”
David Anthony Higgins, or “that one guy from ‘Mike & Molly,’ ‘Malcolm in the Middle,’ ‘Big Time Rush,’ and before that, ‘Ellen,’” according to his social media, is an actor best known for his roles in comedy. Higgins tried his hand at pizza-making at the Iowa State Fair in 2017.
Hailey Whitters
Born: Shueyville, 1989
What she’s known for: Country singer-songwriter
Hailey Whitters is a Grammy-nominated country artist behind songs like “Everything She Ain’t” and “Ten Year Town.” She nabbed New Female Artist of the Year at the ACM Awards in 2023 and has opened for country megastars Luke Bryan and Shania Twain.
Mary Beth Peil
Born: Davenport, 1940
What she’s known for: Opera singer and stage, film and TV actress
Mary Beth Peil is a Tony-nominated actress whose career on the stage includes “Anastasia” and “The King and I.” She graduated from Davenport Central High School as part of the class of 1958 and was inducted into the school’s Hall of Honor in 1989. Peil portrayed Evelyn Ryan, the grandmother of Jen, played by actress Michelle Williams, in the young adult drama “Dawson’s Creek.” She also appeared in the CBS legal drama “The Good Wife.”
Adam DeVine
Born: Waterloo, 1983
What he’s known for: Film and television actor
Some of Adam DeVine’s early work included Comedy Central’s “Workaholics” about three friends who work together as telemarketers. He portrayed Bumper, the leader of an antagonistic a capella group in the young adult comedy movies “Pitch Perfect” and “Pitch Perfect 2.” DeVine stars in the Emmy-nominated HBO series “The Righteous Gemstones.”
Tom Arnold
Born: Ottumwa, 1959
What he’s known for: Actor who appeared in “Roseanne” and “True Lies”
The Iowa native who attended the University of Iowa was a writer on the hit TV show “Roseanne” starring comedian and actress Roseanne Barr — later his first wife. He later appeared in James Cameron’s action movie “True Lies” and hosted “The Best Damn Sports Show Period” in the early 2000s. Arnold was open about his difficult childhood growing up in Iowa and reunited with his siblings in Ottumwa in 2020.
Hynden Walch
Born: Davenport, 1971
What she’s known for: Voice actress for film and animated television including “Teen Titans”
Starfire on Cartoon Network’s animated superhero series “Teen Titans.” Princess Bubblegum on the fantasy animated series “Adventure Time.” Penny Sanchez on the Nickelodeon children’s animated series “ChalkZone.” These are just some of the beloved animated characters Hynden Walch has lent her voice to. Born in Davenport, Walch graduated from UCLA and has voiced characters in video games, television and anime.
Ted Kooser
Born: Ames, 1939
What he’s known for: Poet and educator Ted Kooser was the U.S. Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004 to 2006. His acclaimed work includes “Delights & Shadows,” in which he was awarded the 2005 Pulitzer Prize in poetry. He graduated from Iowa State University with a bachelor’s degree.
Sara Haines
Born: Newton, 1977
What she’s known for: Daytime talk show co-host
Turn on your TV to ABC and expect to see Newton native Sara Haines. “The View” co-host first joined the daytime talk show as a co-host in 2016, though she’d later depart and return to the show. Haines also co-hosted “GMA 3: Strahan, Sara & Keke” on ABC and previously appeared on NBC’s “Today.”
Simon Estes
Born:Centerville, 1938
What he's known for:Internationally recognized opera singer
Born and raised in Centerville, Simon Estes went on to study atthe University of Iowaand briefly at Juilliard in New York City. He has become an internationally known opera singer, performing withartists such as Ray Charles, Barry Manilow, Johnny Cash and Whitney Houston.In August 2019,Des Moines Area Community College created theSimon Estes School of Fine Artsto honor the renowned bass baritone.
Mary Beth Hurt
Born: Marshalltown, 1946
What she’s famous for: Film and television actress
According to the book"Cinema of Outsiders: The Rise of American Independent Film"byEmanuel Levy, when Mary Beth Hurt was growing up in Marshalltown, her babysitter was Jean Seberg, another Iowa-born actress from Marshalltown who becamean icon of French New Wave cinemawith the film "Breathless." Hurt would go on to play Seberg in the docudramafilm"From the Journals of Jean Seberg."However, Hurt is more easily recognizablefor appearing inthe movie"The World According toGarp"with Robin Williamsas well asmultiple episodes of"Law & Order."
Max Allan Collins
Born:Muscatine, 1948
What he's famous for:A writer of comics, novels, and screenplays
Collins was born Max Allan Collins Jr. in Muscatine, where he continues to live today, writing with such fervor that he's published more than 230 works over the course of his career. These writings include frequent contributions to the "Dick Tracy" comic strip and several entries in his "Quarry" crime fiction series of novels, which has been adapted into a Cinemax series of the same name. His 1998 graphic novel "Road to Perdition" was the basis forthe 2002 film featuring Tom Hanks and Daniel Craig.
Fred Grandy
Born:Sioux City, 1948
What he's known for:Actor in "The Love Boat" and politicianin the U.S. House of Representatives
Before serving foreightyears in Congress,Grandy was familiar to the nation as Gopher on "The Love Boat" and Walter in the 1976 series"Monster Squad."After losing an electionfor Iowa governor in 1994 to TerryBranstad, he co-hosted the radio program"The Grandy and Andy Show," and has appeared infilm and television projects.
Ron Clements
Born:Sioux City, 1953
What he's known for:Animator and director of Disney films
Ron Clements is not the only Disney-film director born in Iowa (the same can be said forhis Oscar-winning"Moana" co-director Don Hall, who hails from Glenwood) but he has arguably most impressive resume. Inspired at a young age by the animated film "Pinocchio," Clements helped animate "The Black Cauldron" before going on to co-directing classics such as "The Little Mermaid" and "Aladdin."
Michael Emerson
Born: Cedar Rapids, 1954
What he’s famous for: Film and television actor
Michael Emerson,born in Cedar Rapids,played a recurring character in the television show"Lost," where he first appearedas BenjaminLinus, one of the "the Others" on the island in the show.Since then, Emersonalso appeared in theCBS show "Arrow"and the Amazonoriginal series"Mozart in the Jungle."Over the course of his career,he's been nominated for fiveEmmysanda Golden Globe.
Lara Flynn Boyle
Born:Davenport, 1970
What she's known for:Actress in the television series "Twin Peaks"
Though born in Davenport, Lara Flynn Boyle wasprimarily raised in Chicagobefore going on to perform in film and television. She played Donna Hayward in David Lynch's cult classic television show "Twin Peaks." She's also appeared in "Men and Black II" and the ABC series "The Practice." Her most recent film, "Death in Texas," was released in 2020.
Tionne 'T-Boz' Watkins
Born:Des Moines, April 26, 1970
What she's famous for:Member of the hip-hop group TLC
Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins is a founding memberofTLC, anR&B group that also includedLisa "Left Eye" Lopesand Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas. The group — most popular through the 1990sand early 2000s forsongs such as "Creep" and "No Scrubs" — formed in Atlanta, where Watkins' family moved when she was 9.
N.K. Jemisin
Born: Iowa City, 1972
What she’s known for: Science fiction/fantasy author
Among the most awardedscience fiction writers of the modern era, N.K. Jemisin has pennednovelssuch as "The Broken Earth Trilogy" to her recent "Far Sector" comic. Jemisin's recent urban fantasynovel "The City We Became"was nominated for Best Novel at both theHugo Awardsand theNebula Awards.
Corey Taylor
Born:Des Moines, 1973
What he's known for:Lead vocalist forSlipknot
Though many members of Slipknot, the heavy metalband, have origins in Iowa,specifically Des Moines, Corey Taylor is the face of the band(as much as a group famous for wearing masks can have a face). Taylor is not only one of Slipknot'slongest continuous members, he's also published multiple books about his life and time with the band.
Dave Keuning
Born:Pella, 1976
What he's known for:The guitarist with the rock band The Killers
Though born in Pella, it wasn't until Dave Keuning moved to Las Vegas that he placed an ad in the Las Vegas Weekly to form a band. Thateventually led him to Brandon Flowers, with whom he co-founded the rock band The Killers. The band is behind the classic song "Mr. Brightside" and more recent hits such as "Caution." In 2021,Keuning released his latest solo outing, "A Mild Case of Everything."
Ashton Kutcher
Born:Cedar Rapids, 1978
What he's known for:Actor from "That '70s Show" and "Jobs"
Ashton Kutcher was too beautiful for the University of Iowa, or, perhapsmore accurately, he was handsome enough as a student to stand out in the crowd. When a then-unknown Ashton Kutcher was enrolled at the UI, studying to become abiochemical engineerin the late ’90s, he was approached by a model scout while in Iowa City's The Airliner Bar. He dropped out of college, headed west and it wasn't long before Kutcher hit pay dirt as an actor. Inside of a decade, he appeared in "That ’70s Show" and picked upprojects with comedy legends such as Bernie Mac ("The Bernie Mac Show")and Steve Martin ("Cheaper by the Dozen"). Since then, the actor led the 2013 Steve Jobs biopic "Jobs" and has more recently appeared in the Netflix show "The Ranch."
Danai Gurira
Born:Grinnell, 1978
What she's known for:Actress in "The Walking Dead" and "Black Panther"
Born in Grinnell to parents who immigrated from Southern Rhodesia, Danai Gurira has gone on to become a star of television and film. Her most recognizable screen roles are her portrayal of Michonne in "The Walking Dead" franchise and Okoye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, she's also the playwright behind the 2010Tony-nominated play "Eclipsed."
Brandon Routh
Born:Des Moines, 1979
What he's known for:Actor portraying Superman acrossDC properties
Despite being from Iowa and not Smallville, Kansas, Brandon Routh was tagged to play the titular figure of DC's "Superman Returns," which was released in 2006. Since then, the former University of Iowa student hasappeared in movies such as"Scott Pilgrim vs. The World" and the television shows like"Chuck."He recently donned the Superman cape again inCW's "Crisis on Infinite Earths"multi-program television event. Many Iowans will also know thatRouth grew up playing soccer with his fellow DC superhero,Jason Momoa("Game of Thrones," "Aquaman") who — while not born in Iowa — was high school friends withRouth when they were kids in Norwalk.
Nate Ruess
Born:Iowa City, 1982
What he's known for:Member of the band Fun
Nate Ruess was born in Iowa City before going on to become the lead singer in the indie rock band Fun, known for hits such as "We Are Young" and "Some Nights." The band won a Grammy in 2013 for Best New Artist. Currently, Ruess is fostering a solo career andreleased his solo album, "Grand Romantic" in 2015.
Ben Silbermann
Born:Des Moines, 1982
What he's known for:Creator of the website Pinterest
Growing up in Des Moines, Silbermann graduated from TheodoreRoosevelt High Schoolbefore going on to attend Yale. In 2009, he co-founded Pinterest with Evan Sharp. The image-centric, social mediawebsite is a place to share mood boards, recipes, crafting ideasand the like andis valued at more than $20 billion.
Jefferson White
Born:Mount Vernon, 1987
What he's famous for:Actor on "Yellowstone"
Jefferson White is another actor on this list who has ventured into"The Twilight Zone,"albeitin the 2019rebootof the classic television program, several decadesafterVirginia Christine appeared in the original show. White is likely more familiar to audiences asJimmy Hurdstromin the show "Yellowstone,"where he appears alongsideKevin Costner. White has been in other programs such as "The Americans" and "House of Cards."
Elijah Wood
Born:Cedar Rapids, 1981
What he's known for:Movie, televisionand video game actor
Undoubtedly most recognizable for his depiction of Frodo Baggins in Peter Jackson's adaptation of "The Lord of the Rings," Elijah Wood is originally from Cedar Rapids,where he grew up and lived until age 7. From there, he began appearing in films includingthe 2001 release of "The Fellowship of the Ring."
8 fictional characters from Iowa
Iowans really are everywhere, not content to be constrained to the realm of the real. Individuals from the state are also scattered across fiction.
While certain characters, such as RayKinsella from "Field of Dreams" orFrancesca Johnson from "Bridges of Madison County" are obvious picks as they are part of stories set in the state,the following sevencharacters all hail from the Hawkeye State.
James Francis Ryan
Born: Paton
What he's known for: The titular character of "Saving Private Ryan"
The critically acclaimed World War II movie directed by Steven Spielberg introduced audiences to a young Matt Damon, who portrayed James Francis Ryan. The soldier, who'd lost his brothers to the war, chose to stay in battle and refused orders to bring him home, remaining with "the only brothers that I have left."
Ron Burgundy
Born:Haggleworth, a fictional Iowa town,Feb.28, 1938
What he's known for:Newsman of the 1970s from "Anchorman"
You won't find the birth city of Ronald Joseph Aaron Burgundy on a map. Haggleworth, according to Burgundy's autobiography, "Let Me Off At the Top!,"isa small coal-mining town where Burgundy spent his early days. Burgundy would go on to become part of San Diego's Channel 4 News Team, as depicted the 2004 film "Anchorman" and its 2013 sequel.
Barry Allen
Born:Fallville
First appearance:January 1940
What he's known for:Member of the Justice League
The character of Barry Allen is perhaps better known as The Flash, "The Fastest Man Alive." The character hasmore than 80 years of history since appearing in "Flash Comics No. 1,"and part of that history includes claimingthe fictional Fallville, Iowa,as his place of birth before making the move to the more metropolitanCentral City.
The character has appeared in a variety of incarnations across comic books, television and film. Perhaps hismost prominent depictions include Grant Gustin's take on the character in theCW's "The Flash"and Ezra Miller's cinematic appearance in"Justice League."
Clint Barton
Born:June 18 in Waverly
What he's known for:Member of the Avengers
First appearance:1964
Clint Barton, a.k.a. Hawkeye, made his first appearance in the pages ofMarvel Comics in 1964 as a rival to Iron Man. The archer would go on toteam up with his former enemy in Avengers #16 a year later.
In the world of film, Clint Barton is portrayed by Jeremy Renner, who first appeared on screen in the role during the 2011film "Thor" before joining the Avengers a year later as a founding member of the superhero group. In 2021, coinciding with the Hawkeye State's 175th anniversary, the avenging archer received a Disney Plus show titled after him.
Walter 'Radar' O'Reilly
Born:Ottumwa
What he's known for:Corporal inthe Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (M.A.S.H.)
First appearance:1970
Depicted in both the 1970film "M.A.S.H." and its subsequent television series of the same name by Gary Burghoff, Walter "Radar" O'Reilly is known asa corporal in the U.S armed forces' Mobile Army Surgical Hospital. Prior to these iterations, the character appeared in the novel byRichard Hooker and W. C. Heinz. Radar's origins stretch even further back than the book through Don Shaffer,the real-life person who served with Hooker and on whomRadar is based. Shaffer served in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars and, like Radar,Shaffer was born in Ottumwa, though, unlike Radar,Shaffer has no ESP to speak of.
Miss Piggy
Born:June 14, Keystone
What she's known for:A recurring cast member with Jim Henson's "The Muppets"
First appearance:1974
On Oct. 13, 1974, Miss Piggy madeher on-screen debut on "Herb Alpert and the TJB"and from there became a star known the world over. When "The Muppet Show" came calling just a few years later, Piggy answered the call andthe Keystone-born celebrityhas appeared in numerous theatrically released films and television specials over the course of her long career.
James Tiberius Kirk
Born:Riverside, March 22
Lifetime:2233-2371
What he's known for:Seminal protagonist of the long-running "Star Trek" franchise
Captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise, James T. Kirkled the space fairing vessel on a five-year missionexploring various worlds yet unknown tothe United Federation of Planets, founded in 2161. Thoughsuspected dead in 2293,his death actually took place in 2371 on the planetVeridian III, where he was buried by his successor, Captain Jean-Luc Piccard.James T. Kirk was portrayed by actor William Shatner across multiple "Star Trek" television seasons and motion picturesas well as, more recently, actor Chris Pine playing an alternate universe version of the character.
Former Register reporter Isaac Hamlet contributed to this article.
Paris Barraza covers entertainment, lifestyle and arts at the Des Moines Register. Reach her atPBarraza@registermedia.comor follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza.
