5 famous names born in the same year as Mickey Mouse

We’re lucky Mickey Mouse is basically immortal (trademark law notwithstanding). He may change over time, but his youthful enthusiasm hasn’t waned over 90 years.

Other stars who were born the same year as Mickey Mouse have already left us — but not until leaving an indelible mark on our culture, and our hearts.

Here are five other famous names born 90 years ago. One of them, the poet Maya Angelou, once said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” We doubt anyone will ever forget what these five icons did, or how they made us feel.

Andy Warhol (1928-1987): An icon of the art world in the 1960s and ’70s, Andy Warhol gained fame by turning the common Campbell’s Soup can into art. While we may think of a soup can or a series of portraits of Marilyn Monroe when we think of Warhol, he worked in almost any medium you can think of, including television, movies, theater, fashion, and digital art. In some ways, he was a harbinger of our digital age, when we all dabble in pop art thanks to smartphones and social media.

Shirley Temple Black (1928-2014): The original child star, Shirley Temple made her first movie at the tender age of 3. At 7, she was the top box office draw in the country, and she stayed on top for three years. But by the time she was 12, she was all washed up as far as Hollywood was concerned. She retired from showbiz at 21, just about the time when most people are starting their careers. Many child stars grow up troubled, but Shirley Temple went on to live a full life of service. She became active in politics and went on to have a diplomatic career, including a stint as US Ambassador to Czechoslovakia from 1989-1992. A lifelong friend of Walt Disney, she also served on the board of directors of the Walt Disney Company.

Fred Rogers (1928-2004): What can we say about Mr. Rogers? An ordained minister, he preached his message of love and acceptance through television for more than 30 years. Through “Mister Rogers Neighborhood,” he found teachable moments in some of the most difficult topics kids (and their parents) face — death, war, divorce. Rogers wasn’t just the face of the show, which ran from 1968-2001, he was its creator, showrunner, producer, composer, and even a puppeteer. Mr. Rogers was a go-to source for journalists writing about how parents should talk to children about tragedy. His quote turns up every time something terrible happens in the world: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of ‘disaster,’ I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers—so many caring people in this world.” (Oh, and if you haven’t seen the documentary “Won’t You Be My Neighbor,” grab a hanky and get to it!)

Adam West (1928-2017): Adam West was Batman before Ben Affleck was even born. West played the Caped Crusader in the ABC TV series from 1966-1968. It may not seem like long, but West’s iconic performance in 140 episodes lived on in seemingly endless reruns. TV critics Alan Sepinwall and Matt Zoller Seitz ranked Batman as the 82nd greatest American television show of all time in their 2016 “TV (The Book),”  saying the brilliance of West’s performance “required decades to be properly recognized.”

Maya Angelou (1928-2014): She won international acclaim in 1969 with her first autobiography, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” which laid bare her life up to age 17. She went on to write six more autobiographies, several books of poetry and essays, as well as plays, movies, and more. On what would have been her 90th birthday, Angelou’s son, Guy Johnson, wrote, “My mother’s principal message was one of inclusiveness; that despite our ethnic, religious and cultural differences, we are more alike than unalike. She saw all our differences in language, orientation and perspective as an indication of the richness of our imagination and creativity, and as elements of our nature

that we should celebrate. She believed that we are all images of God, no matter how we look or what name we use to call upon the Divine and Sacred Being.”