Leading Figures in History

Discover the people who shaped our world — from rulers and scientists to artists and activists.

39103 persons found

Billy Ayre

English footballer and manager

Billy Barnes (cricketer)

b. 1852

English cricketer (1852–1899)

Billy Bean

American baseball player (1964–2024)

Billy Bitzer

American cinematographer (1872–1944)

Billy Bob Thornton

b. 1955

American actor, filmmaker, and singer-songwriter (born 1955)

Billy Boston

b. 1934

GB international rugby league footballer

Billy Bryans

Musical artist

Billy Butlin

Holiday camp entrepreneur

Billy Campbell

b. 1959

American actor (born 1959)

Billy Cannon

b. 1937

American football player (1937–2018)

Billy Casper

b. 1931

American professional golfer (1931–2015)

Billy Cobham

b. 1944

Panamanian–American drummer (born 1944)

Billy Conn

American boxer (1917–1993)

Billy Crudup

b. 1968

American actor (born 1968)

Billy Cunningham

b. 1943

American basketball player and coach (born 1943)

Billy Davis Jr.

b. 1938

American singer and musician (born 1938)

Billy Donovan

b. 1965

American basketball coach (born 1965)

Billy Eckstine

b. 1914

American jazz singer and bandleader (1914–1993)

Billy Fiske

American bobsledder and fighter pilot

Billy Fury

b. 1940

British rock and roll musician (1940–1983)

Billy Gardell

b. 1969

American actor (born 1968)

Billy Gilman

b. 1988

American singer (born 1988)

Billy Gilmour

b. 2001

Scottish footballer (born 2001)

Billy Gonsalves

b. 1908

American soccer player