famous February birthdays
Leap year gives this motivational speaker a chance to celebrate his birthday. This celebrity shares his birth month with a "friend," a former first daughter and an NBA superstar. Check out these celebrities and others who will hear wishes of "happy birthday" this month
Jennifer Aniston is best known for her 10-year role as Rachel Green on "Friends" but made the successful leap to several movie roles while on the show and after. She is due to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame this year.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg won his third term in office in 2009. A successful businessman as well as politician , he founded Bloomberg L.P., a financial media group.
Television journalist Tom Brokaw anchored the " Today " show and "NBC Nightly News" and covered historic events such as the Challenger disaster and the fall of the Berlin Wall. He has authored several books, most notably "The Greatest Generation".
Country music superstar Garth Brooks took his genre to international fame with his hit songs and energetic concerts . Following a brief retirement, he now performs at the Encore Las Vegas resort.
Former first daughter Chelsea Clinton campaigned for her mother's bid for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination in 2008. She married Marc Mezvinskyin 2010
Singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow has enjoyed a career that has spanned several decades and has earned her nine Grammy Awards . She won her battle with breast cancer in 2006.
Founder and CEO of Dell Computers, Michael Dell started his company while still a college student. He and his wife started the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation in support of children's causes.
Actress Isla Fisher got her start on Australian television before her breakthrough in American movies She and her comedian husband have two daughters .
Best-selling author John Grisham was a criminal law attorney for 10 years before beginning his writing career. Seven of his legal thrillers have been made into movies .
Cartoonist Matt Groening created the popular and long-running series "The Simpsons" as well as "Futurama." His two series have earned him 12 Emmy Awards, and he will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame this year.
Arguably one of the best NBA players, Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to their six NBA Championships in the 12 years he spent with the team, with a brief hiatus as a minor league baseball player. He was a two-time Olympic gold medalist and was a part of the 1992 "Dream Team."
Hunky actor Ashton Kutcher took over the vacant lead role on "Two and a Half Men" following the controversial departure of Charlie Sheen. His high-profile divorce from Demi Moore has made headlines .
Take-no-prisoners trainer Jillian Michaels helped inspire some dramatic physical and emotional changes to contestants on "The Biggest Loser." She has since left the show, but she offers her training services through her line of personal fitness programs .
Influential author Toni Morrison won both the Pulitzer Prize and Nobel Prize for her work Her award-winning novel "Beloved" inspired a movie and an opera, "Margaret Garner."
"Inception" star Ellen Page was nominated for a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for her breakout role in "Juno." She is set to star in the next Woody Allen film, "Nero Fiddled," to be released later this year.
Former governor of Alaska Sarah Palin was the first woman to be nominated as a Republican vice-presidential candidate. She authored a best-selling book, "Going Rogue" and showed America her home state in her television show "Sarah Palin's Alaska."
Academy Award-winning (for what movie?) actor Joe Pesci's roles have varied from bad guys in "Casino" to lovable good guys in "My Cousin Vinny." He is one of the producers of the Broadway musical "Jersey Boys."
Pop singer Rihanna has produced hit after hit and released her sixth album in November. She is the Ambassador for Culture and Youth for her home country and is involved in promotion and marketing for the country.
Actress Christina Ricci rose to fame after her breakout role as Wednesday Addams in "The Addams Family." Currently, she stars in the drama "Pan Am."
Recognized as a villain from his roles in "Die Hard" and "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves," Alan Rickman kept audiences guessing whether his well-known role as Severus Snape in the "Harry Potter" series was a good guy or a bad guy. Classically trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, he began acting on stage and has continued throughout his caree
Motivational speaker Tony Robbins has created a self-help empire comprising his speaking events and his best-selling books . His charity, the Anthony Robbins Foundation, conducts food drives and The International Basket Brigade as well as empowerment programs.
Television journalist Bob Schieffer is the current moderator of "Face the Nation" and former anchor of "CBS Evening News" . He has chronicled his career in journalism in three books .
Latin cross-over singer Shakira broke through the American pop charts with her first English album "Laundry Service." She performed twice during President Barack Obama's inaugural festivities, once with Usher and Stevie Wonder .
Professional golfer Vijay Singh is frequently seen on the leader board and has won two PGA Championships as well as a win in the Masters Tournament A native of Fiji, he was named a goodwill ambassador for his country in 2005.
Legendary quarterback Roger Staubachfor "America's Team"led his team to two Super Bowl victories and was instrumental in the team's impressive record during his 10-year tenure. He coined the "Hail Mary pass" where a last-minute, long-shot play gave his team the win.
Former political adviser George Stephanopoulos worked on the 1992 presidential campaign for Bill Clinton and became Clinton's White House communications director. He can now be found at the anchor desk for "Good Morning America" and as a political correspondent for ABC News.
Oscar-nominated actor John Travolta will always be recognized by his dance moves in "Saturday Night Fever" and "Grease." An avid pilot, he owns and flies several aircraft
Iconic author Alice Walker is best known for her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "The Color Purple," which was made into a movie and a Broadway musical. A collection of her papers and manuscripts are housed in Emory University's library.
Letter-turning beauty Vanna White has appeared on "Wheel of Fortune" as co-host since her debut in 1982. She published her best-selling autobiography "Vanna Speaks!" in 1987.