The following is an overview of 1956 in film, including significant events, a list of films released and notable births and deaths.

Top-grossing films (U.S.)

The top ten 1956 released films by box office gross in North America are as follows:

Events

* February 5 – First showing of

documentary film A documentary film (often described simply as a documentary) is a nonfiction Film, motion picture intended to "document reality, primarily for instruction, education or maintaining a Recorded history, historical record". The American author and ...

s by the Free Cinema movement, at the National Film Theatre, London. * February 16 – '' Carousel'' is the first film released that was shot in CinemaScope 55. * February 23 – Arthur B. Krim and Robert Benjamin acquire Mary Pickford's interest in United Artists for $3 million giving them full ownership of UA. * February – Warner Bros. sells much of its pre-1950 library to Associated Artists Productions (a.a.p.); after a series of mergers the films return to WB 40 years later. * February – Darryl F. Zanuck announces his resignation as head of production of

20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc., formerly 20th Century Fox, is an American film studio, film production and Film distributor, distribution company owned by the Walt Disney Studios (division), Walt Disney Studios, the film studios division of the ...

after 20 years as the studio head. He is later replaced by Buddy Adler. * April 18 – Grace Kelly marries Prince Rainier III and becomes Princess consort of Monaco. She stops acting. Her last feature film, '' High Society'', is released in July. * May 30 – United Artists release '' Trapeze'' which becomes their highest-grosser until surpassed by '' Around the World in 80 Days'' the following year. * July – Harry and Albert Warner sell their stock in Warner Bros.

Jack L. Warner Jack Leonard Warner (born Jacob Warner; August 2, 1892 – September 9, 1978) was a Canadian-born American film executive, who was the president and driving force behind the Warner Bros., Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California. Warner's ca ...

retains his and becomes president. * July 25 – The comedy partnership between Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis ends. Their last film together, '' Hollywood or Bust'', is released later in the year. * August 4 – The last film serial, '' Blazing the Overland Trail'' from

Columbia Pictures Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc., Trade name, doing business as Columbia Pictures, is an American film Production company, production and Film distributor, distribution company that is the flagship unit of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group ...

, is released. * October 5 – '' The Ten Commandments'' opens in cinemas. It was the most expensive film of all time with a cost of $13 million and becomes one of the most successful and popular films of all time, currently ranking 6th on the list of all time moneymakers (when adjusted for inflation). It was director Cecil B. DeMille's last film. * October 17 – Mike Todd's '' Around the World in 80 Days'' is released and goes on to become United Artists' highest-grossing film. * October 18 – Joseph Vogel becomes president of

MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, commonly shortened to MGM or MGM Studios) is an American Film production, film and television production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered ...

. * November 1 – The film ''

Oklahoma! ''Oklahoma!'' is the first musical theater, musical written by the duo of Rodgers and Hammerstein. The musical is based on Lynn Riggs's 1931 play, ''Green Grow the Lilacs (play), Green Grow the Lilacs''. Set in farm country outside the town of ...

'', released in 1955 to select cities in Todd-AO, now receives a U.S. national release in CinemaScope, since not all theatres are yet equipped for Todd-AO. To accomplish this, the film has actually been shot twice, rather than printing one version in two different film processes, as is later done. * November 15 –

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one of the most significant cultural figures of the ...

's first film, '' Love Me Tender'', opens. * November 28 **'' And God Created Woman'' opens in France making Brigitte Bardot an international star. **It is announced that production head Dore Schary will leave

at the end of the year. * December 14 – '' Dance with Me, Henry'' is the last film featuring the comedy duo Abbott and Costello.

Awards

Top ten money making stars

1956 film releases

January–March

*January 1956 **11 January ***'' The Lieutenant Wore Skirts'' **12 January ***'' Diane'' **26 January ***''

Helen of Troy Helen (), also known as Helen of Troy, or Helen of Sparta, and in Latin as Helena, was a figure in Greek mythology said to have been the most beautiful woman in the world. She was believed to have been the daughter of Zeus and Leda (mythology), ...

'' **29 January ***'' Warning from Space'' (

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

) *February 1956 **5 February ***'' Invasion of the Body Snatchers'' **16 February ***'' Carousel'' **25 February ***'' The Lone Ranger'' *March 1956 **3 March ***'' Forbidden Planet'' **6 March ***'' 1984'' ( U.K.) **9 March ***'' Come Next Spring'' ***'' Meet Me in Las Vegas'' **10 March ***'' Never Say Goodbye'' **21 March ***'' Rock Around the Clock'' **23 March ***'' Serenade'' **24 March ***'' Raw Edge'' **25 March ***'' Indestructible Man'' ***'' World Without End'' **28 March ***'' The Conqueror''

April–June

*April 1956 **4 April ***'' The Maverick Queen'' **6 April ***'' Jubal'' **10 April ***'' Seven Wonders of the World'' **11 April ***'' Backlash'' **24 April ***''

Our Miss Brooks ''Our Miss Brooks'' is an American sitcom starring Eve Arden as a sardonic high-school English teacher. It began as a Old Time Radio, radio show broadcast on CBS from 1948 to 1957. When the show was adapted to television (1952–56), it became ...

'' **26 April ***'' The Creature Walks Among Us'' **27 April ***'' Godzilla, King of the Monsters!'' *May 1956 **8 May ***'' The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit'' **9 May ***'' The Harder They Fall'' **15 May ***'' Invitation to the Dance'' **26 May ***'' The Searchers'' **30 May ***'' Trapeze'' ***'' While the City Sleeps'' ***'' The Animal World'' *June 1956 **1 June ***'' The Man Who Knew Too Much'' **6 June ***'' The Killing'' **10 June ***'' Crime in the Streets'' **12 June ***'' A Kiss Before Dying'' **13 June ***'' Earth vs. the Flying Saucers'' ***'' Star in the Dust'' **15 June ***'' Gunslinger'' **20 June ***''

Safari A safari (; originally ) is an overland journey to observe wildlife, wild animals, especially in East Africa. The so-called big five game, "Big Five" game animals of Africa – lion, African leopard, leopard, rhinoceros, African elephant, elep ...

'' **21 June *** '' The Eddy Duchin Story'' **22 June ***'' The Catered Affair'' **27 June ***''

Moby Dick ''Moby-Dick; or, The Whale'' is an 1851 Epic (genre), epic novel by American writer Herman Melville. The book is centered on the sailor Ishmael (Moby-Dick), Ishmael's narrative of the maniacal quest of Captain Ahab, Ahab, captain of the whaler ...

'' **29 June ***'' The King and I''

July–September

*July 1956 **6 July ***'' The Fastest Gun Alive'' **12 July ***'' Foreign Intrigue'' **15 July ***'' It Conquered the World'' **17 July ***'' High Society'' **18 July ***'' Davy Crockett and the River Pirates'' **23 July ***'' Dakota Incident'' **25 July ***'' Pardners'' **29 July ***'' Hold Back the Night'' **30 July ***'' Run for the Sun'' *August 1956 *'' The Beast of Hollow Mountain'' **1 August ***'' Autumn Leaves'' **3 August ***'' Mukh O Mukhosh'', highest grossing Dhallywood, Bangladesh film of 1956. **17 August ***'' A Cry in the Night '' ***'' These Wilder Years'' **21 August ***'' War and Peace'' **24 August ***'' A Strange Adventure'' **26 August ***'' The Swan'' **29 August ***'' The First Traveling Saleslady'' ***'' The Vagabond King'' *September 1956 **12 September ***'' The Bad Seed'' **15 September ***'' Lust for Life'' **21 September ***'' The Last Wagon'' **28 September ***'' The Best Things in Life Are Free''

October–December

*October 1956 **5 October ***'' The Ten Commandments'' **17 October ***'' Around the World in 80 Days'' ***'' Attack'' ***'' Julie'' **26 October ***'' The Opposite Sex'' **31 October ***'' Death of a Scoundrel'' ***'' You Can't Run Away from It'' *November 1956 **1 November ***'' Naked Gun'' ***''

The White Squaw ''The White Squaw'' is a 1956 American Western (genre), Western film directed by Ray Nazarro and starring David Brian, May Wynn and William Bishop (actor), William Bishop. Plot A Swedish settler (David Brian) starts a war when he tries to drive ...

'' **15 November ***'' Love Me Tender'' ***'' Gun the Man Down'' **18 November ***'' Yield to the Night'' ( U.K.) **24 November *** ''

Giant In folklore, giants (from Ancient Greek: ''wiktionary:gigas, gigas'', cognate wiktionary:giga-, giga-) are beings of humanoid appearance, but are at times prodigious in size and strength or bear an otherwise notable appearance. The word ''gia ...

'' **25 November ***'' Friendly Persuasion'' **29 November ***'' The Teahouse of the August Moon'' *December 1956 **1 December ***'' The Mole People'' ***'' The Girl Can't Help It'' ***'' Curucu, Beast of the Amazon'' **5 December *** '' Man Beast'' **6 December ***'' Hollywood or Bust'' ***'' Nightfall'' **12 December ***'' Bundle of Joy'' **13 December ***'' Anastasia'' ***'' The Rainmaker'' **21 December ***'' The King and Four Queens'' **25 December ***'' Written on the Wind'' **26 December *** '' Rodan'' (

) ***'' Zarak'' **29 December ***'' Baby Doll'' **'' The Great Man''

Notable films released in 1956

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

unless stated

#

*'' 7th Cavalry'', starring Randolph Scott and Barbara Hale *'' 23 Paces to Baker Street'', starring Van Johnson and Vera Miles *'' 1984'', directed by Michael Anderson, starring Edmond O'Brien and Michael Redgrave – ( GB)

A

*'' Accused of Murder'', starring Vera Ralston *''

Alexander the Great Alexander III of Macedon (; 20/21 July 356 BC – 10/11 June 323 BC), most commonly known as Alexander the Great, was a king of the Ancient Greece, ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia (ancient kingdom), Macedon. He succeeded his father Philip ...

'', starring Richard Burton *'' Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves'' (Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum) – (

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

) *'' The Ambassador's Daughter'', starring Olivia de Havilland, Myrna Loy, John Forsythe *'' Anastasia'', starring Ingrid Bergman and Yul Brynner *'' And God Created Woman'', directed by Roger Vadim, starring Brigitte Bardot – (

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

) *'' Aparajito'' (The Unvanquished), directed by

Satyajit Ray Satyajit Ray (; 2 May 1921 – 23 April 1992) was an Indian film director, screenwriter, author, lyricist, magazine editor, illustrator, calligraphy, calligrapher, and composer. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest and most influ ...

– (

) *'' Around the World in 80 Days'', directed by Michael Anderson, starring David Niven,

Cantinflas Mario Fortino Alfonso Moreno Reyes (12 August 1911 – 20 April 1993), known by the stage name Cantinflas (), was a Mexican comedian, actor, and filmmaker. He is considered to have been the most widely accomplished Mexican comedian and is well ...

, Shirley MacLaine –

Academy Award The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence ...

for Best Picture *'' At Gunpoint'', starring Fred MacMurray, Walter Brennan, Dorothy Malone *'' Attack'', a.k.a. ''Attack!'', directed by Robert Aldrich, starring Jack Palance, Eddie Albert, Lee Marvin *'' Autumn Leaves'', starring Joan Crawford and Cliff Robertson *'' Away All Boats'', starring Jeff Chandler

B

*'' Baby Doll'', directed by

Elia Kazan Elias Kazantzoglou (, ; September 7, 1909 – September 28, 2003), known as Elia Kazan ( ), was a Greek-American film and theatre director, producer, screenwriter and actor, described by ''The New York Times'' as "one of the most honored and inf ...

, starring Carroll Baker, Karl Malden,

Eli Wallach Eli Herschel Wallach ( ; December 7, 1915 – June 24, 2014) was an American film, television, and stage actor from New York City. Known for his character actor roles, his entertainment career spanned over six decades. He received a British Aca ...

*'' Back from Eternity'', starring Robert Ryan, Anita Ekberg, Rod Steiger *'' Backlash'', starring Richard Widmark and Donna Reed *'' The Bad Seed'', starring Nancy Kelly and Patty McCormack *'' Bandido'', starring Robert Mitchum *'' The Battle of the River Plate'', a.k.a. ''Pursuit of the Graf Spee'', written and directed by Powell and Pressburger, starring John Gregson and Peter Finch – ( GB) *'' Before Sundown'' (Vor Sonnenuntergang) – (

West Germany West Germany was the common English name for the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) from its formation on 23 May 1949 until German reunification, its reunification with East Germany on 3 October 1990. It is sometimes known as the Bonn Republi ...

) *'' Behind the Headlines'', starring Paul Carpenter and Hazel Court *'' The Benny Goodman Story'', starring Steve Allen and Donna Reed *'' The Best Things in Life Are Free'', starring Gordon MacRae, Dan Dailey, Sheree North *'' Between Heaven and Hell'', directed by Richard Fleischer, starring Robert Wagner and Buddy Ebsen *'' Beyond a Reasonable Doubt'', directed by

Fritz Lang Friedrich Christian Anton Lang (; December 5, 1890 – August 2, 1976), better known as Fritz Lang (), was an Austrian-born film director, screenwriter, and producer who worked in Germany and later the United States.Obituary ''Variety Obituari ...

, starring Dana Andrews and Joan Fontaine *'' Bhowani Junction'', starring Ava Gardner and Stewart Granger – ( GB/

) *'' Bigger Than Life'', directed by Nicholas Ray, starring James Mason, Barbara Rush, Walter Matthau *'' The Birds and the Bees'', starring George Gobel and Mitzi Gaynor *'' The Black Tent'', directed by

Brian Desmond Hurst Brian Desmond Hurst (12 February 1895 – 26 September 1986) was an Irish people, Irish film director. With over thirty films in his filmography, Hurst was hailed as Northern Ireland's best film director by BBC film critic Mike Catto.Scree ...

, starring Donald Sinden, Anthony Steel, Anna Maria Sandri &

André Morell Cecil André Mesritz (20 August 1909 – 28 November 1978), known professionally as André Morell, was an English actor. He appeared frequently in theatre, film and on television from the 1930s to the 1970s. His best known screen roles were as ...

– ( U.K.) *'' Bob le flambeur'' (Bob the Gambler), directed by Jean-Pierre Melville – (

) *'' The Bold and the Brave'', starring Wendell Corey and

Mickey Rooney Mickey Rooney (born Ninnian Joseph Yule Jr.; other pseudonym Mickey Maguire; September 23, 1920 – April 6, 2014) was an American actor. In a career spanning nearly nine decades, he appeared in more than 300 films and was among the last survivi ...

*'' The Boss'', starring John Payne and Doe Avedon *'' The Bottom of the Bottle'', directed by Henry Hathaway, starring Van Johnson, Joseph Cotten, Ruth Roman *'' The Brave One'', directed by

Irving Rapper Irving Rapper (16 January 1898 – 20 December 1999) was a British-born American film director. Biography Born to a British Jews, Jewish family in London, Rapper emigrated to the United States and became an actor and a stage director on Broadwa ...

*'' The Burmese Harp'' (Biruma no tategoto), directed by

Kon Ichikawa was a Japanese film director and screenwriter. His work displays a vast range in genre and style, from the anti-war films '' The Burmese Harp'' (1956) and '' Fires on the Plain'' (1959), to the documentary '' Tokyo Olympiad'' (1965), which won t ...

– (

) *'' The Burning Hills'', starring Natalie Wood and Tab Hunter *'' Bus Stop'', starring

Marilyn Monroe Marilyn Monroe ( ; born Norma Jeane Mortenson; June 1, 1926 August 4, 1962) was an American actress and model. Known for playing comic "Blonde stereotype#Blonde bombshell, blonde bombshell" characters, she became one of the most popular sex ...

and Don Murray

C

*''

C.I.D. Cid may refer to: * Cid (soil) * Cubic inch (c.i.d., cid), a displacement unit for internal combustion engines * Cid, a slang term for lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) * Content-ID, a URI scheme (cid:) that allows the use of MIME within email Peop ...

'', starring Dev Anand – (

) *'' Calabuch'' (a.k.a. The Rocket from Calabuch), directed by Luis García Berlanga, starring Edmund Gwenn and Valentina Cortese – (Spain) *'' Calle Mayor'' (Main Street), directed by Juan Antonio Bardem, starring Betsy Blair – (

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

) *'' Carnival Night'' (Karnavalnaya noch) – (

USSR The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

) *'' Carousel'', directed by Henry King, starring

Shirley Jones Shirley Mae Jones (born March 31, 1934) is an American actress and singer. In her six decades in show business, she has starred as wholesome characters in a number of musical films, such as ''Oklahoma! (film), Oklahoma!'' (1955), ''Carousel (fi ...

and Gordon MacRae *'' The Case of the Mukkinese Battle Horn'', comedy short starring Peter Sellers,

Spike Milligan Terence Alan "Spike" Milligan (16 April 1918 – 27 February 2002) was an Irish comedian, writer, musician, poet, playwright and actor. The son of an English mother and Irish father, he was born in British Raj, British India, where he spent his ...

, Dick Emery – ( GB) *'' The Catered Affair'', starring

Bette Davis Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis (; April 5, 1908 – October 6, 1989) was an American actress of film, television, and theater. Regarded as one of the greatest actresses in Hollywood history, she was noted for her willingness to play unsympatheti ...

, Ernest Borgnine, Debbie Reynolds *'' Checkpoint (1956 film)'', directed by Ralph Thomas, starring Anthony Steel, Odile Versois, Stanley Baker & James Robertson Justice – ( U.K.) *'' Child of Sorrow'' (Anak dalita) – (

Philippines The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...

) *'' Chori Chori'', starring Nargis and

Raj Kapoor Raj Kapoor (; born as Shrishti Nath Kapoor; 14 December 1924 2 June 1988; also known as Ranbir Raj Kapoor) was an Indian actor, film director and producer, who worked in Hindi cinema. He is considered to be one of the greatest and most influen ...

– (

) *'' Comanche'', starring Dana Andrews and Linda Cristal *'' Come Next Spring'', starring Ann Sheridan and Steve Cochran *'' Congo Crossing'', starring Virginia Mayo and Peter Lorre *'' The Conqueror'', directed by Dick Powell, starring

John Wayne Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne, was an American actor. Nicknamed "Duke", he became a Pop icon, popular icon through his starring roles in films which were produced during Hollywood' ...

(as

Genghis Khan Genghis Khan (born Temüjin; August 1227), also known as Chinggis Khan, was the founder and first khan (title), khan of the Mongol Empire. After spending most of his life uniting the Mongols, Mongol tribes, he launched Mongol invasions and ...

) *'' The Court Jester'', starring Danny Kaye *'' Crazed Fruit'' (Kurutta kajitsu), directed by Kō Nakahira – (

) *'' Crime Against Joe'', starring

Julie London Julie London (born Julie Peck; September 26, 1926 – October 18, 2000) was an American singer and actress whose career spanned more than 40 years. A torch song, torch singer noted for her contralto voice, London recorded over thirty album ...

*'' Crime in the Streets'', directed by Don Siegel, starring James Whitmore and John Cassavetes *'' A Cry in the Night'', starring Edmond O'Brien, Natalie Wood, Raymond Burr

D

*'' D-Day the Sixth of June'', starring Robert Taylor *'' Dakota Incident'', starring Dale Robertson *'' Dance with Me, Henry'', starring Bud Abbott and Lou Costello *'' Death in the Garden'' (La mort en ce jardin), directed by

Luis Buñuel Luis Buñuel Portolés (; 22 February 1900 – 29 July 1983) was a Spanish and Mexican filmmaker who worked in France, Mexico and Spain. He has been widely considered by many film critics, historians and directors to be one of the greatest and ...

, starring Simone Signoret and Charles Vanel – (

) *'' Death of a Scoundrel'', starring George Sanders and Zsa Zsa Gabor *'' Diane'', starring Lana Turner in her final MGM film after nearly 20 years with the studio *'' Donatella'', directed by Mario Monicelli, starring

Elsa Martinelli Elsa Martinelli (born Elisa Tia; 30 January 1935 – 8 July 2017) was an Italian actress and fashion model. Described by ''The Guardian'' as a "versatile star of Hollywood’s international years whose work spanned romantic comedies, period epi ...

– (

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

) *'' Don't Look Back, My Son'' (Ne okreći se sine) – (

Yugoslavia , common_name = Yugoslavia , life_span = 1918–19921941–1945: World War II in Yugoslavia#Axis invasion and dismemberment of Yugoslavia, Axis occupation , p1 = Kingdom of SerbiaSerbia , flag_p ...

) *'' The Dragon'' (O Drakos) – (

Greece Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. Located on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, it shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to th ...

)

E

*'' Early Spring'' (Soshun), directed by

Yasujirō Ozu was a Japanese filmmaker. He began his career during the era of silent films, and his last films were made in colour in the early 1960s. Ozu first made a number of short comedies, before turning to more serious themes in the 1930s. The most pr ...

– (

) *'' Earth vs. the Flying Saucers'', starring Hugh Marlowe *'' The Eddy Duchin Story'', starring Tyrone Power and Kim Novak *'' Elena and Her Men'', starring Ingrid Bergman – (

)

F

*'' The Fastest Gun Alive'', starring Glenn Ford and Broderick Crawford *'' The First Texan'', starring Joel McCrea *'' The First Traveling Saleslady'', starring

Ginger Rogers Ginger Rogers (born Virginia Katherine McMath; July 16, 1911 – April 25, 1995) was an American actress, dancer and singer during the Classical Hollywood cinema, Golden Age of Hollywood. She won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her starri ...

, Barry Nelson, Carol Channing *'' Forbidden Planet'', starring Walter Pidgeon,

Leslie Nielsen Leslie William Nielsen (February 11, 1926November 28, 2010) was a Canadian actor and comedian. With a career spanning 60 years, he appeared in more than 100 films and 150 television programs, portraying more than 220 characters. He made his a ...

, Anne Francis *'' Forever, Darling'', starring

Desi Arnaz Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Acha III (March 2, 1917 – December 2, 1986), known as Desi Arnaz, was a Cuban-American actor, musician, producer, and bandleader. He played Ricky Ricardo on the American television sitcom ''I Love Lucy'', in whi ...

, Lucille Ball, James Mason *'' Friendly Persuasion'', directed by

William Wyler William Wyler (; born Willi Wyler (); July 1, 1902 – July 27, 1981) was a German-born American film director and producer. Known for his work in numerous genres over five decades, he received numerous awards and accolades, including three Aca ...

, starring Gary Cooper, Dorothy McGuire, Anthony Perkins *'' Funtoosh'' (Funny Man), starring Dev Anand – (

)

G

*'' Gaby'', starring Leslie Caron *'' Gervaise'', directed by René Clément, starring Maria Schell – (

) *''

'', directed by

George Stevens George Cooper Stevens (December 18, 1904 – March 8, 1975) was an American film director, producer, screenwriter and cinematographer. He won the Academy Award for Best Director for ''A Place in the Sun (1951 film), A Place in the Sun'' (1951) ...

, starring Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson and James Dean in his final film *'' The Girl Can't Help It'', starring Tom Ewell and Jayne Mansfield in her first starring role *'' The Girl He Left Behind'', starring Tab Hunter and Natalie Wood *'' A Girl in Black'', directed by Michael Cacoyannis – winner of Golden Globe – (

) *'' Godzilla, King of the Monsters!'' directed by Terry Morse and Ishirō Honda, starring Raymond Burr and Takashi Shimura – (

) *'' Good-bye, My Lady'', directed by William A. Wellman, starring Brandon deWilde, Walter Brennan, Phil Harris *'' Great Day in the Morning'', directed by Jacques Tourneur, starring

Robert Stack Robert Stack (born Charles Langford Modini Stack; January 13, 1919 – May 14, 2003) was an American actor and television host. Known for his deep voice and commanding presence, he appeared in over forty feature films. He starred in the America ...

and Virginia Mayo *'' The Great Locomotive Chase'', starring Fess Parker and Jeffrey Hunter *'' The Great Man'', directed by and starring José Ferrer, with

, Keenan Wynn,

Ed Wynn Isaiah Edwin Leopold (November 9, 1886 – June 19, 1966), better known as Ed Wynn, was an American actor and comedian. He began his career in vaudeville in 1903 and was known for his ''Perfect Fool'' comedy character, his pioneering radio show ...

*'' The Green Man'', starring Alastair Sim, George Cole, Terry-Thomas – ( GB) *'' Gun the Man Down'', starring James Arness and Angie Dickinson in her film debut *'' Gunslinger'', directed by Roger Corman, starring John Ireland and Beverly Garland

H

*'' The Harder They Fall'', starring

Humphrey Bogart Humphrey DeForest Bogart ( ; December 25, 1899 – January 14, 1957), nicknamed Bogie, was an American actor. His performances in classic Hollywood cinema made him an American cultural icon. In 1999, the American Film Institute selected Bogart ...

in his final film *'' The Harvest Month'' (Elokuu) – (

Finland Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the south, ...

) *''

'', starring Rossana Podestà, Stanley Baker *'' High Society'', starring

Bing Crosby Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer, comedian, entertainer and actor. The first multimedia star, he was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century worldwi ...

Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Honorific nicknames in popular music, Nicknamed the "Chairman of the Board" and "Ol' Blue Eyes", he is regarded as one of the Time 100: The Most I ...

and Grace Kelly in her final film *'' Hilda Crane'', starring Jean Simmons *'' Hold Back the Night'', starring John Payne *'' Hollywood or Bust'', starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, with Anita Ekberg, in the final Martin and Lewis film *'' Hot Blood'', starring Jane Russell and Cornel Wilde *'' The Houston Story'', starring Barbara Hale and Gene Barry *'' The Hunchback of Notre Dame'', starring Gina Lollobrigida and Anthony Quinn – (

)

I

*''

Ich suche Dich ''Ich suche Dich'' (French title: ''L’amour ne meurt jamais''), is a 1956 West German film based on the 1940 play '' Jupiter Laughs'' by A. J. Cronin. It is directed by O. W. Fischer, who also stars in the film, and also features Anouk Aimé ...

'' (I Seek You), starring O. W. Fischer and Anouk Aimée – (

) *'' The Indian Fighter'', starring Kirk Douglas and Walter Matthau *'' Invasion of the Body Snatchers'', directed by Don Siegel, starring

Kevin McCarthy Kevin Owen McCarthy (born January 26, 1965) is an American politician who served as the List of speakers of the United States House of Representatives, 55th speaker of the United States House of Representatives from January until he was Remova ...

*'' Invitation to the Dance'', directed by and starring

Gene Kelly Eugene Curran Kelly (August 23, 1912 – February 2, 1996) was an American dancer, actor, singer, director and choreographer. He was known for his energetic and athletic dancing style and sought to create a new form of American dance accessibl ...

*'' It Conquered the World'', directed by Roger Corman, starring Peter Graves and Beverly Garland

J

*'' Jagte Raho'' (Stay Awake), starring

– (

) *'' Johnny Concho'', starring

*'' Jubal'', starring Glenn Ford, Rod Steiger, Ernest Borgnine, Felicia Farr, Charles Bronson *'' Julie'', starring Doris Day and Louis Jourdan

K

*'' Kanal'', directed by Andrzej Wajda – (

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...

) *'' The Killer Is Loose'', directed by Budd Boetticher, starring Joseph Cotten, Rhonda Fleming, Wendell Corey *'' The Killers'', a short film directed by Andrei Tarkovsky – ( U.S.S.R.) *'' The Killing'', directed by Stanley Kubrick, starring Sterling Hayden, Coleen Gray, Marie Windsor,

Vince Edwards Vince Edwards (born Vincent Edward Zoine; July 9, 1928 – March 11, 1996) was an American actor, director, and singer. He was best known for his TV role as Dr. Ben Casey and as Major Cliff Bricker in the 1968 war film '' The Devil's Brigade' ...

*'' The King and Four Queens'', starring

Clark Gable William Clark Gable (February 1, 1901November 16, 1960) was an American actor often referred to as the "King of Cinema of the United States, Hollywood". He appeared in more than 60 Film, motion pictures across a variety of Film genre, genres dur ...

*'' The King and I'', starring Deborah Kerr and Yul Brynner *'' A Kiss Before Dying'', starring Robert Wagner and Joanne Woodward

L

*'' The Last Hunt'', directed by Richard Brooks, starring Robert Taylor and Stewart Granger *'' The Last Wagon'', starring Richard Widmark *'' The Leech'' (Shabab emraa) – (

Egypt Egypt ( , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country spanning the Northeast Africa, northeast corner of Africa and Western Asia, southwest corner of Asia via the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to northe ...

) *'' The Lieutenant Wore Skirts'', directed by Frank Tashlin, starring Tom Ewell and Sheree North *''

Lisbon Lisbon ( ; ) is the capital and largest city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 567,131, as of 2023, within its administrative limits and 3,028,000 within the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, metropolis, as of 2025. Lisbon is mainlan ...

'', directed by and starring Ray Milland, with Maureen O'Hara and

Claude Rains William Claude Rains (10 November 188930 May 1967) was a British and American actor whose career spanned almost seven decades. He was the recipient of numerous accolades, including four Academy Award nominations for Academy Award for Best Supp ...

*'' The Lone Ranger'', starring Clayton Moore and

Jay Silverheels Jay Silverheels (born Harold Jay Smith; May 26, 1912 – March 5, 1980) was a First Nations in Canada, First Nations and Mohawk people, Mohawk actor and athlete, descended from three Iroquois nations. He was well known for his role as Tonto, the ...

*'' The Long Arm'', starring Jack Hawkins – ( GB) *'' Love Me Tender'', starring

in his film debut *'' Lust for Life'', starring Kirk Douglas (as

Vincent van Gogh Vincent Willem van Gogh (; 30 March 185329 July 1890) was a Dutch Post-Impressionist painter who is among the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western art. In just over a decade, he created approximately 2,100 artworks ...

) and Anthony Quinn

M

*'' A Man Escaped'' (Un condamné à mort s'est échappé ou Le vent souffle où il veut), directed by

Robert Bresson Robert Bresson (; 25 September 1901 – 18 December 1999) was a French film director. Known for his ascetic approach, Bresson made a notable contribution to the art of cinema; his non-professional actors, Ellipsis (narrative device), ellipses, an ...

– (

) *'' The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit'', starring Gregory Peck, Jennifer Jones, Fredric March, Keenan Wynn, Lee J. Cobb *'' Man on the Tracks'' (Człowiek na torze) – (

) *'' The Man Who Knew Too Much'', directed by

Alfred Hitchcock Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English film director. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. In a career spanning six decades, he directed over 50 featu ...

(a remake of his own 1934 British film), starring James Stewart and Doris Day *'' The Man Who Never Was'', starring Clifton Webb and Gloria Grahame – ( GB) *'' Marie Antoinette Queen of France''m directed by Jean Delannoy, starring Michèle Morgan and Richard Todd – (

) *'' The Maverick Queen'', starring Barbara Stanwyck and Barry Sullivan *'' Meet Me in Las Vegas'', starring Cyd Charisse *'' Merry-Go-Round'' (Körhinta) – (

Hungary Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning much of the Pannonian Basin, Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia and ...

) *'' Michel Strogoff'' *'' Miracle in the Rain'', starring Jane Wyman *''

'', directed by John Huston, starring Gregory Peck, Richard Basehart, Leo Genn *'' Mukh O Mukhosh'' (The Face and the Mask) – ( East Pakistan) *'' The Mystery of Picasso'', a documentary featuring

Pablo Picasso Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso (25 October 1881 – 8 April 1973) was a Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker, Ceramic art, ceramicist, and Scenic ...

, directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot

N

*'' Naked Gun'' starring Mara Corday and Willard Parker *'' Nagareru'' (Flowing), directed by Mikio Naruse – (

) *'' Never Say Goodbye'', starring Rock Hudson, David Janssen, Cornell Borchers *''

New Delhi New Delhi (; ) is the Capital city, capital of India and a part of the Delhi, National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT). New Delhi is the seat of all three branches of the Government of India, hosting the Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Parliament ...

'' – (

)

O

*'' Old Khottabych'' (Starik Khottabych) – ( U.S.S.R.) *'' On the Threshold of Space'', starring Guy Madison *'' The Opposite Sex'', starring June Allyson,

, Joan Collins *'' Othello'', starring Sergei Bondarchuk – ( U.S.S.R.) *'' Over-Exposed'', starring Cleo Moore

P

*'' Pardners'', starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis *'' Patterns'', starring Van Heflin and Ed Begley *'' Pillars of the Sky'', starring Jeff Chandler and Dorothy Malone *'' Please Murder Me'', starring Angela Lansbury and Raymond Burr *'' Poor but Handsome'' (Poveri ma belli) – (

) *'' The Power and the Prize'', starring Robert Taylor, Burl Ives, Mary Astor,

Cedric Hardwicke Sir Cedric Webster Hardwicke (19 February 1893 – 6 August 1964) was an English stage and film actor whose career spanned over 50 years. His theatre work included notable performances in productions of the plays of Shakespeare and Shaw, and hi ...

, Elisabeth Müller *'' Private's Progress'', a Boulting Brothers film starring Ian Carmichael and

Richard Attenborough Richard Samuel Attenborough, Baron Attenborough (; 29 August 192324 August 2014) was an English actor, film director, and Film producer, producer. Attenborough was the president of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and the British Acade ...

– ( GB) *'' Professor Hannibal'' (Hannibál tanár úr), directed by Zoltán Fábri (Hungary) *'' The Proud and Profane'', starring William Holden and Deborah Kerr *'' The Proud Ones'', starring Robert Ryan and Virginia Mayo

Q

*'' Qivitoq'' – (

Denmark Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...

)

R

*'' The Rack'', starring

Paul Newman Paul Leonard Newman (January 26, 1925 – September 26, 2008) was an American actor, film director, race car driver, philanthropist, and activist. He was the recipient of List of awards and nominations received by Paul Newman, numerous awards ...

, Edmond O'Brien, Walter Pidgeon, Anne Francis, Lee Marvin, and Cloris Leachman *'' The Railroad Man'' (Il Ferroviere), directed by and starring Pietro Germi – (

) *'' The Rainmaker'', starring Burt Lancaster, Katharine Hepburn, Lloyd Bridges and Wendell Corey *'' Raj Hath'', starring Madhubala – (

) *'' Ransom!'', starring Glenn Ford and Donna Reed *'' Reach for the Sky'', a biopic of Douglas Bader starring Kenneth More – ( GB) *'' The Red Balloon'' (Le Ballon rouge) – (

) *'' The Road of Life'' (El camino de la vida) – (

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

) *'' Rock Around the Clock'', featuring Bill Haley and His Comets *'' Rodan'', directed by Ishirō Honda – (

) *'' The Roof'' (Il Tetto), directed by Vittorio De Sica – (

) *'' Run for the Sun'', starring Richard Widmark, Trevor Howard,

Jane Greer Jane Greer (born Bettejane Greer; September 9, 1924 – August 24, 2001) was an American film and television actress best known for her role as ''femme fatale'' Kathie Moffat in the 1947 film noir ''Out of the Past''. In 2009, ''The Guardian'' ...

S

*'' Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island'', directed by Hiroshi Inagaki, starring Toshiro Mifune – (Japan) *'' The Searchers'', directed by

John Ford John Martin Feeney (February 1, 1894 – August 31, 1973), better known as John Ford, was an American film director and producer. He is regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers during the Golden Age of Hollywood, and w ...

, starring

, Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles, Ward Bond, Ken Curtis, Natalie Wood *'' Serenade'', directed by

Anthony Mann Anthony Mann (born Emil Anton Bundsmann; June 30, 1906 – April 29, 1967) was an American film director and stage actor. He came to prominence as a skilled director of ''Film noirs, film noir'' and Western film, Westerns, and for his Epic film ...

, starring Mario Lanza and Joan Fontaine *'' Seven Men from Now'', directed by Budd Boetticher, starring Randolph Scott and Lee Marvin *'' Seven Wonders of the World'', a documentary film directed by

Tay Garnett William Taylor "Tay" Garnett (June 13, 1894 – October 3, 1977) was an American film director, writer, and producer. He made nearly 50 films in various genres during his 55-year career, ''The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946 film), The Postman ...

and others *'' Seven Years in Tibet'' – ( GB) *'' The She-Creature'', starring Marla English *'' The Silent World'', a marine documentary by

Jacques-Yves Cousteau Jacques-Yves Cousteau, (, also , ; 11 June 191025 June 1997) was a French naval officer, oceanographer, filmmaker and author. He co-invented the first successful open-circuit self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA), called the A ...

and Louis Malle – (

) *'' Sira` Fi al-Mina'' (a.k.a. Dark Water), directed by Youssef Chahine, starring Omar Sharif – (

) *'' Slightly Scarlet'', starring John Payne and Rhonda Fleming *'' The Solid Gold Cadillac'', starring Judy Holliday *'' Somebody Up There Likes Me'', starring

*'' The Spanish Gardener'', starring Dirk Bogarde – ( GB) *'' The Square Jungle'', starring Tony Curtis and Patricia Crowley *'' Star in the Dust'', starring John Agar and Mamie Van Doren *'' Stars in Your Eyes'' – (GB) *'' Storm Center'', starring

and Kim Hunter *'' Street of Shame'' (Akasen chitai), directed by Kenji Mizoguchi – (

)

T

*'' Tea and Sympathy'', directed by

Vincente Minnelli Vincente Minnelli (; born Lester Anthony Minnelli; February 28, 1903 – July 25, 1986) was an American Theatre director, stage director and film director. From a career spanning over half a century, he is best known for his sophisticated innovat ...

, starring Deborah Kerr and John Kerr *'' The Teahouse of the August Moon'', starring Marlon Brando and Glenn Ford *'' The Ten Commandments'', directed by Cecil B. DeMille, starring

Charlton Heston Charlton Heston (born John Charles Carter; October 4, 1923 – April 5, 2008) was an American actor. He gained stardom for his leading man roles in numerous Cinema of the United States, Hollywood films including biblical epics, science-fiction f ...

, Yul Brynner, Anne Baxter,

Yvonne De Carlo Margaret Yvonne Middleton (September 1, 1922January 8, 2007), known professionally as Yvonne De Carlo, was a Canadian-American actress, dancer and singer. She became a Cinema of the United States, Hollywood film star and sex symbol in the 1940s a ...

, Edward G. Robinson *'' There's Always Tomorrow'', starring Barbara Stanwyck, Fred MacMurray, Joan Bennett *'' Three Brave Men'', starring Ray Milland *'' Time Table'', directed by and starring Mark Stevens, with Felicia Farr *'' Toward the Unknown'', starring William Holden and Virginia Leith *'' A Town Like Alice'', starring Virginia McKenna and Peter Finch – ( GB) *'' Trapeze'', directed by Carol Reed, starring Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis, Gina Lollobrigida *'' Tribute to a Bad Man'', directed by Robert Wise, starring James Cagney, Irene Papas, Stephen McNally, Don Dubbins, Vic Morrow *'' The Twelve Months'' (Dvenadtsat mesyatsev) – (

)

U

*'' Uncle Hyacynth'' (Mi tío Jacinto) – (

)

V

*'' Valley of Peace'' (Dolina miru) – (

) *'' I Vampiri'' (The Vampire) – (

)

W

*'' War and Peace'', directed by

King Vidor King Wallis Vidor ( ; February 8, 1894 – November 1, 1982) was an American film director, film producer, and screenwriter whose 67-year film-making career successfully spanned the silent and sound eras. His works are distinguished by a vivid, ...

, starring Audrey Hepburn, Henry Fonda,

Mel Ferrer Melchor Gastón FerrerAncestry Library Edition (August 25, 1917 – June 2, 2008) was an American actor, director, and producer, active in film, theatre, and television. He achieved prominence on Broadway before scoring notable film hits with ...

, Anita Ekberg *'' Wakeful Eyes'', directed by Ezz El-Dine Zulficar, starring Salah Zulfikar and Shadia – (

) *'' What a Woman!'', starring Sophia Loren, Charles Boyer and Marcello Mastroianni – (

) *'' While the City Sleeps'', starring Dana Andrews, Ida Lupino, Rhonda Fleming, George Sanders, Vincent Price *'' Who Done It?'', starring Benny Hill – ( GB) *'' A Woman's Devotion'', starring Ralph Meeker and Janice Rule *'' Written on the Wind'', directed by Douglas Sirk, starring Rock Hudson,

Lauren Bacall Betty Joan Perske (September 16, 1924 – August 12, 2014), professionally known as Lauren Bacall ( ), was an American actress. She was named the AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars, 20th-greatest female star of classic Hollywood cinema by the America ...

, Dorothy Malone *'' The Wrong Man'', directed by

, starring Henry Fonda and Vera Miles

X

*'' X the Unknown'', starring Dean Jagger and Leo McKern – (GB)

Y

*'' Yield to the Night'', starring Diana Dors – ( GB) *'' You Can't Run Away from It'', directed by Dick Powell, starring June Allyson and Jack Lemmon

Z

*'' Zarak'', starring Victor Mature – (GB)

Serials

*'' Blazing the Overland Trail'', starring Lee Roberts and Dennis Moore *'' Perils of the Wilderness''

Short film series

* ''

Looney Tunes ''Looney Tunes'' is an American media franchise produced and distributed by Warner Bros. The franchise began as a series of animated short films that originally ran from 1930 to 1969, alongside its spin-off series ''Merrie Melodies'', during t ...

'' ( 1930– 1969) * '' Terrytoons'' ( 1930– 1964) * '' Merrie Melodies'' ( 1931– 1969) * '' Popeye'' (

1933 Events January * January 11 – Australian aviator Sir Charles Kingsford Smith makes the first commercial flight between Australia and New Zealand. * January 17 – The United States Congress votes in favour of Philippines independen ...

– 1957) * '' The Three Stooges'' ( 1934– 1959) * ''

Bugs Bunny Bugs Bunny is a cartoon character created in the late 1930s at Warner Bros. Cartoons (originally Leon Schlesinger, Leon Schlesinger Productions) and Voice acting, voiced originally by Mel Blanc. Bugs is best known for his featured roles in the ' ...

'' ( 1940–

1962 The year saw the Cuban Missile Crisis, which is often considered the closest the world came to a Nuclear warfare, nuclear confrontation during the Cold War. Events January * January 1 – Samoa, Western Samoa becomes independent from Ne ...

) * '' Tom and Jerry'' ( 1940– 1958) * '' Droopy'' (

1943 Events Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix. January * January 1 – WWII: The Soviet Union announces that 22 German divisions have been encircled at Stalingrad, with 175,000 killed and 137,650 captured. * January 4 � ...

– 1958) * '' Yosemite Sam'' ( 1945–

1963 Events January * January 1 – Bogle–Chandler case: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation scientist Dr. Gilbert Bogle and Mrs. Margaret Chandler are found dead (presumed poisoned), in bushland near the Lane Cove ...

) * '' Speedy Gonzales'' (

1953 Events January * January 6 – The Asian Socialist Conference opens in Rangoon, Burma. * January 12 – Estonian émigrés found a Estonian government-in-exile, government-in-exile in Oslo. * January 14 ** Marshal Josip Broz Tito ...

– 1968) * '' Woody Woodpecker'' ( 1940–

1972 Within the context of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) it was the longest year ever, as two leap seconds were added during this 366-day year, an event which has not since been repeated. (If its start and end are defined using Solar time, ...

) Ending this year * '' Donald Duck'' ( 1934-1956) * '' Chip 'n' Dale'' (

-1956)

Births

* January 1 – Sheila McCarthy, Canadian actress and singer * January 2 – John Bedford Lloyd, American character actor * January 3 – Mel Gibson, American Irish actor and director * January 4 – Ann Magnuson, American actress * January 7 – David Caruso, American actor * January 9 ** Kimberly Beck, American actress ** Tim Kelleher, American writer, actor and director ** Imelda Staunton, English actress * January 13 – Janet Hubert, American actress * January 20 – Bill Maher, American comedian, writer, producer, actor and television host * January 21 ** Geena Davis, American actress ** Robby Benson, American actor * January 22 – Michael Kopsa, Canadian actor (d. 2022) * January 24 – Peter Woodward, English actor, screenwriter and stuntman * January 25 **

Dinah Manoff Dinah Manoff (born January 25, 1956) is an American stage, film, and television actress and television director. She is best known for her roles as Carol Weston on '' Empty Nest,'' Elaine Lefkowitz on ''Soap'', Marty Maraschino in the film '' Gr ...

, American actress and director ** Kevin O'Rourke, American actor * January 27 ** Susan Blakeslee, American voice actress and musical theatre actress ** Kevyn Major Howard, Canadian actor (d.

2025 So far, the year has seen the continuation of major armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Sudanese civil war (2023–present), Sudanese civil war, and the Gaza war. Internal crises in Bangladesh post-resignation v ...

) ** Mimi Rogers, American actress * January 30 – Ann Dowd, American actress * January 31 – John Lydon, English actor * February 3 –

Nathan Lane Nathan Lane (born Joseph Lane; February 3, 1956) is an American actor. Since 1975, he has been Nathan Lane on screen and stage, on stage and screen in both comedic and dramatic roles. He has received List of awards and nominations received by Na ...

, American actor * February 12 – Arsenio Hall, American comedian, actor and talk show host * February 13 – Jimmy Yuill, Scottish actor * February 14 – Tom Burlinson, Canadian-Australian actor and singer * February 15 – Olga Merediz, American actress and singer * February 17 – Richard Karn, American actor * February 19 – Kathleen Beller, American actress * February 26 – Jonathan Schmock, American actor, director, producer and writer * February 27 – Angela Aames, American actress (d. 1988) * February 28 – Lloyd Sherr, American voice actor * March 1 – Tim Daly, American actor * March 2 – Ángel Salazar, Cuban-American comedian and actor (d. 2024) * March 5 – Adriana Barraza, Mexican actress * March 7 – Bryan Cranston, American actor and director * March 8 – John Kapelos, Canadian actor * March 10 – Lesley Dunlop, English actress * March 11 – Rob Paulsen, American voice actor * March 12 – Lesley Manville, English Actress * March 13 – Dana Delany, American actress * March 16 – Clifton Powell, American actor * March 25 – Matthew Garber, British actor and filmmaker (d. 1977) * March 26 – Erika Kaljusaar, Estonian actress * March 27 – Michael Harney, American actor * March 30 – Paul Reiser, American comedian, actor and musician * April 8 – Jim Piddock, English actor, producer and writer * April 12 – Andy García, Cuban-American actor * April 17 – Vyto Ruginis, English actor and producer * April 18 – Eric Roberts, American actor * April 20 – Georgie Glen, Scottish actress * April 22 – Bruce A. Young, American actor, writer and screenwriter * April 27 – Kevin McNally, English actor and writer * April 30 –

Lars von Trier Lars von Trier (né Trier; born 30 April 1956) is a Danish film director and screenwriter. Beginning in the late-1960s as a child actor working on Danish television series ''Secret Summer'', von Trier's career has spanned more than five decad ...

, Danish director * May 4 – Ralph Seymour, American actor * May 5 – Lisa Eilbacher, American actress * May 7 – S. Scott Bullock, American voice actor * May 9 – Wendy Crewson, Canadian actress * May 10 ** Paige O'Hara, American actress, voice actress, singer and painter ** Jonathan Roberts, American screenwriter, producer and author * May 12 – Kimiko Yo, Japanese actress * May 13 ** Fred Melamed, American actor, comedian and writer ** Kirk Thornton, American voice actor, director and screenwriter * May 17 – Bob Saget, American stand-up comedian, actor and television host (d. 2022) * May 19 – Steven Ford, American actor * June 1 – Tom Irwin, American actor * June 4 – Keith David, American actor * June 5 – Roger Michell, British director (d. 2021 in film, 2021) * June 9 – Kelly Connell, American actor * June 15 **Ava Cadell, former actress, writer and producer **Robin Curtis, American actress * June 18 **Dominic Guard, English former actor **Marsha Garces Williams, American producer * June 22 – Tim Russ, American actor, director, screenwriter and musician * June 25 **Chloe Webb, American actress **Bob West, American voice actor, singer and graphic designer * June 27 – John Michael Bolger, American actor * June 30 – David Alan Grier, American actor, singer and comedian * July 1 – Alan Ruck, American actor * July 2 – Jerry Hall, American actress and model * July 9 – Tom Hanks, American actor and director * July 10 - Alok Nath, Indian former actor * July 11 – Sela Ward, American actress * July 16 – Tony Kushner, American author, playwright and screenwriter * July 18 – Audrey Landers, American actress and singer * July 19 – Peter Barton (actor), Peter Barton, American retired actor * July 25 – Roger Clinton Jr., American actor and musician * July 31 **Michael Biehn, American actor **R. A. Mihailoff, American actor * August 10 – Peter Robbins (actor), Peter Robbins, American child actor (d. 2022) * August 12 – Bruce Greenwood, Canadian actor * August 17 – Mahendra Perera, Sri Lankan actor * August 19 – Adam Arkin, American actor and director * August 20 **Joan Allen, American actress **Simon Shepherd, English actor * August 21 – Kim Cattrall, English-born Canadian actress * August 23 – Skipp Sudduth, American actor * August 24 – Kevin Dunn, American actor * August 26 – Brett Cullen, American actor * August 28 – Luis Guzman, Puerto Rican character actor * September 5 – Debbie Turner, American actress * September 7 – Michael Beattie (actor), Michael Beattie, Canadian-American actor * September 11 **Tony Gilroy, American filmmaker **Adriane Lenox, American actress * September 16 – Jimmy Chisholm, Scottish actor * September 17 – Susie Silvey, English actress, dancer and model * September 18 – Tim McInnerny, English actor * September 20 **Gary Cole, American actor **Debbi Morgan, American actress * September 26 – Linda Hamilton, American actress * September 28 – Kiran Shah, Kenyan-Indian actor and stunt double * September 29 – Stuart Charno, American actor * October 2 – Charlie Adler, American voice actor and voice director * October 3 – Hart Bochner, Canadian actor, director, screenwriter and producer * October 4 – Christoph Waltz, Austrian-German actor * October 10 **Amanda Burton, Northern Irish actress **Fiona Fullerton, British actress and singer * October 11 – Stephen Spinella, American actor * October 14 – Bruce MacVittie, American actor (d. 2022) * October 20 – Danny Boyle, English director and producer * October 21 – Carrie Fisher, American actress (d. 2016 in film, 2016) * October 23 – Dwight Yoakam, American singer-songwriter, actor and filmmaker * October 24 – Erich Anderson, American actor (d. 2024) * October 26 – Rita Wilson, American actress and producer * October 30 – Juliet Stevenson, English actress * November 3 – Gary Ross, American director, writer and producer * November 8 – Richard Curtis, New Zealand-born British director and screenwriter * November 9 – Tyler Coppin, American-Australian actor * November 10 **Matt Craven, Canadian character actor **Sinbad (comedian), Sinbad, American stand-up comedian and actor * November 13 – Rex Linn, American actor * November 16 – Dan Shor, American actor, director and writer * November 17 – Kelly Ward, American actor and voice director * November 20 – Bo Derek, American actress and model * November 21 – Cherry Jones, American actress * November 22 – Richard Kind, American actor and voice actor * November 24 – Ruben Santiago-Hudson, American actor and director * November 26 – Don Lake, Canadian actor and writer * November 27 – William Fichtner, American actor * December 2 – Steven Bauer, Cuban-born American actor * December 7 – Mark Rolston, American character actor * December 8 – Michael C. Burgess (editor), Michael C. Burgess, British actor * December 10 **John Lee Hancock, American filmmaker **Catherine Parks, American actress * December 17 – Peter Farrelly, American film director * December 20 – Blanche Baker, American actress and filmmaker * December 22 – Ray Lui, Hong Kong actor

Deaths

* January 9 – Marion Leonard, 74, American early silent actress, ''The Prussian Spy'', ''The Gibson Goddess'' * January 12 – Norman Kerry, 61, American actor, ''The Phantom of the Opera (1925 film), The Phantom of the Opera'', ''The Unknown (1927 film), The Unknown'' * January 19 – Charles Dingle, 68, American actor, ''Call Me Madam (film), Call Me Madam'', ''State of the Union (film), State of the Union'' * January 23 – Alexander Korda, 62, Hungarian film director, the founder of London Films, ''That Hamilton Woman'', ''The Private Life of Henry VIII'' * February 2 **Bob Burns (comedian), Bob Burns, 65, American actor, ''Waikiki Wedding'', ''Belle of the Yukon'' **Charley Grapewin, 86, American actor, ''The Wizard of Oz'', ''The Grapes of Wrath (film), The Grapes of Wrath'' * February 26 – Elsie Janis, 66, American actress and screenwriter, ''A Regular Girl'', ''Women in War'' * March 17 – Fred Allen, 61, American actor, ''It's in the Bag!'', ''O. Henry's Full House'' * March 24 – Jean Gehret, 56, Swiss actor and director, ''La Chienne'', ''Madame Bovary'' * March 25 – Robert Newton, 50, English actor, ''Oliver Twist (1948 film), Oliver Twist'', ''Odd Man Out'' * April 4 – Lloyd Ingraham, 81, American actor and director, ''Scaramouche (1923 film), Scaramouche'', ''West of the Rio Grande'' * April 14 – Christian Rub, 70, Austrian actor, ''Father's Son (1941 film), Father's Son'', ''Something for the Birds'' * April 15 – Kathleen Howard, 71, Canadian-American opera singer and actress, ''It's a Gift'', ''Ball of Fire'' * April 21 – Charles MacArthur, 60, American screenwriter and playwright, ''Wuthering Heights (1939 film), Wuthering Heights'', ''His Girl Friday'' * April 24 – Henry Stephenson, 85, British actor, ''Mutiny on the Bounty (1935 film), Mutiny on the Bounty'', ''Oliver Twist (1948 film), Oliver Twist'' * April 26 – Edward Arnold (actor), Edward Arnold, 66, American actor, ''Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'', ''Diamond Jim'' * May 12 – Louis Calhern, 61, American actor, ''Duck Soup (1933 film), Duck Soup'', ''Notorious (1946 film), Notorious'', ''The Asphalt Jungle'', '' High Society'' * June 2 – Jean Hersholt, 69, Danish-American actor, ''Heidi (1937 film), Heidi'' * June 6 – Margaret Wycherly, 74, English-American actress, ''White Heat'', ''Sergeant York (film), Sergeant York'' * June 30 – Thorleif Lund, 76, Norwegian actor, ''Skibsrotten'', ''Republikaneren'' * July 8 – Mona Mårtenson, 54, Swedish actress, ''Pippi Longstocking (1949 film), Pippi Longstocking'', ''The Saga of Gosta Berling'' * July 16 – Olof Winnerstrand, 80, Swedish actor, ''Torment (1944 film), Torment'', ''A Lesson in Love (1954 film), A Lesson in Love'' * August 16 – Bela Lugosi, 73, Hungarian-born American actor, ''Dracula (1931 English-language film), Dracula'', ''White Zombie (film), White Zombie'', ''The Black Cat (1934 film), The Black Cat'' * August 23 – Kenji Mizoguchi, 58, Japanese director, ''The Life of Oharu'', ''A Geisha'' * October 2 – George Bancroft (actor), George Bancroft, 74, American actor, ''Stagecoach (1939 film), Stagecoach'', ''Mr. Deeds Goes to Town'' * October 9 – Marie Doro, 74, American actress, ''Oliver Twist (1916 film), Oliver Twist'', ''Sally Bishop (1924 film), Sally Bishop'' * October 17 – Anne Crawford, 35, British actress, ''Knights of the Round Table (film), Knights of the Round Table'', ''Night Beat (1947 film), Night Beat'' * November 6 – Paul Kelly (actor), Paul Kelly, 57, American actor, ''Juvenile Court (film), Juvenile Court'', ''Adventure in Sahara'' * November 10 – Victor Young, 56, American composer, '' Around the World in 80 Days'', ''For Whom the Bell Tolls (film), For Whom the Bell Tolls'' * November 26 – Tommy Dorsey, 56, American musician, ''The Fabulous Dorseys'', ''DuBarry Was a Lady (film), DuBarry Was a Lady'', ''Ship Ahoy (film), Ship Ahoy'' * November 30 – Viggo Wiehe, 81, Danish actor, ''Doctor Nicholson and the Blue Diamond'', ''Røverne fra Rold'' * December 8 – Jack Cohn, 67, co-founder of

* December 12 – E. A. Dupont, 64, German writer, director, ''Jealousy (1925 film), Jealousy'', ''The Scarf (film), The Scarf'' * December 26 – Holmes Herbert, 74, British actor, ''Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931 film), Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'', ''The Invisible Man (1933 film), The Invisible Man''

Film Debuts

Notes

References

External links

List of 1956 films
at IMDb
List of 1956 deaths
at IMDb
List of 1956 births
at IMDb {{1956 films 1956 in film, Film by year