At 78, Joe Biden made headlines in January 2021 for becoming the oldest elected person to assume the U.S. presidency.
Since then, concerns have been raised about his age, with trips and falls drawing media attention, but he is running for a second term. The president is just days away from turning 81, on November 20.
The first of four children, Biden was born in 1942 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, to Catherine Eugenia Finnegan Biden and Joseph Robinette Biden. After a long career in government and politics, he will be 82 at the start of his next term if he wins reelection next year.
Many other notable and influential figures are the same age as the president, some of whom you might not be aware of.
Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand was born on April 24, 1942. Known for both her singing and starring in movies, including Funny Girl and Yentl (which she also directed), she has just released two albums, Evergreens: Celebrating Six Decades on Columbia Records and Yentl: 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition.
Paul McCartney
Another well-known voice in popular music is Paul McCartney.
Born on June 18, 1942, in Liverpool, England, he was a singer, songwriter and bassist in one of the biggest groups in popular music history, the Beatles. He later went on to a successful solo career.
McCartney is showing fans that he can still put on a show at 81, with tour dates running until the end of 2023. A possible 2024 tour is being teased.
Harrison Ford
1942 has produced some iconic figures in the entertainment industry, including a staple of the big screen who has played such memorable characters as Indiana Jones and Han Solo.
Harrison Ford was born on July 13, 1942, in Chicago to Dorothy Ford, a radio actress, and Christopher Ford, an actor turned advertising executive. Ford started acting in 1964.
His acting credits include the Star Wars franchise, the Indiana Jones films, Air Force One, The Fugitive, Blade Runner and the TV series 1923.
— Mia Farrow 🏳️🌈 🌻🇺🇦 (@MiaFarrow) October 15, 2023
Martin Scorsese
Acclaimed movie director Martin Scorsese was born on November 17, 1942.
His many films include Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas and the newly released Killers of the Flower Moon. His daughter Francesca has thrust him into the TikTok spotlight after he appeared in several of her videos, which have racked up a million-plus views, showing you can teach an old dog new tricks.
@francescascorsese In case you can’t tell, we really love 2001: A Space Odyssey @Letterboxd #fyp #martinscorsese #movieranking
♬ Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) - ABBA
Judge Judy
"Judge Judy" Sheindlin has served up justice on TV for many years. Born on October 21, 1942, in New York City's Brooklyn, her hit show Judge Judy ran for 25 seasons, from 1996 to 2021. She now has a spinoff, Judy Justice, on Amazon Freevee.
Others in the 1942 Club
Other notable figures born in 1942 are Harry Potter star David Bradley, who played Argus Filch and was born April 17 in Yorkshire, England; Swedish actress Britt Ekland, who was born in Stockholm on October 6; writer and Curb Your Enthusiasm actor Bob Einstein, born November 20 in Los Angeles; and Castle and Dharma & Greg star Susan Sullivan, born November 18 in New York City.
They are joined by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who was born February 20 in Sheffield, Alabama; comedian and TV host Joy Behar, born October 7 in Brooklyn; and Dallas Cowboys owner, president and general manager Jerry Jones, born October 13 in Los Angeles.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
