Claim profile
2008

2008

Whose working lives fell in 2008. Books are measured from 1800 and readers from 2015, so for this period we can say who lived then, not who was talked about then.

Lived then

The most notable people whose working lives fell in 2008, ranked where Wikipedia coverage and readership agree.

  1. 1Heath LedgerHeath Ledger1979–2008 · 🇦🇺 Australia · Actors2 decades
  2. 2Paul WalkerPaul Walker1973–2013 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors4 decades
  3. 3Heidi KlumHeidi Klumborn 1973 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models2 decades
  4. 4BanksyBanksyborn 1973 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Artists2 decades
  5. 5Adrien BrodyAdrien Brodyborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors1 decades
  6. 6Sergey BrinSergey Brinborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists2 decades
  7. 7Kate BeckinsaleKate Beckinsaleborn 1973 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Actors1 decades
  8. 8Fabio CannavaroFabio Cannavaroborn 1973 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Footballers2 decades
  9. 9Filippo InzaghiFilippo Inzaghiborn 1973 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Footballers2 decades
  10. 10Larry PageLarry Pageborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists2 decades
  11. 11Roberto CarlosRoberto Carlosborn 1973 · 🇧🇷 Brazil · Footballers1 decades
  12. 12Vera FarmigaVera Farmigaborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors0 decades
  13. 13Jim ParsonsJim Parsonsborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors0 decades
  14. 14Lena HeadeyLena Headeyborn 1973 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Actors0 decades
  15. 15AkonAkonborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Musicians2 decades
  16. 16Monica SelesMonica Selesborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Tennis Players2 decades
  17. 17Monica LewinskyMonica Lewinskyborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Designers3 decades
  18. 18Neil Patrick HarrisNeil Patrick Harrisborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors1 decades
  19. 19Neve CampbellNeve Campbellborn 1973 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Actors0 decades
  20. 20Thomas TuchelThomas Tuchelborn 1973 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Footballers1 decades
  21. 21Juliette LewisJuliette Lewisborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors2 decades
  22. 22Seth MacFarlaneSeth MacFarlaneborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers0 decades
  23. 23James MarsdenJames Marsdenborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors0 decades
  24. 24Aishwarya RaiAishwarya Raiborn 1973 · 🇮🇳 India · Actors2 decades
  25. 25Haakon, Crown Prince of NorwayHaakon, Crown Prince of Norwayborn 1973 · 🇳🇴 Norway0 decades
  26. 26Ryan GiggsRyan Giggsborn 1973 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Footballers1 decades
  27. 27Kristen WiigKristen Wiigborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors0 decades
  28. 28Patrick WilsonPatrick Wilsonborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors3 decades
  29. 29Javier ZanettiJavier Zanettiborn 1973 · 🇦🇷 Argentina · Footballers0 decades
  30. 30Pharrell WilliamsPharrell Williamsborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Musicians1 decades
  31. 31Marco MaterazziMarco Materazziborn 1973 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Footballers2 decades
  32. 32Kathryn HahnKathryn Hahnborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors0 decades
  33. 33Varg VikernesVarg Vikernesborn 1973 · 🇳🇴 Norway · Musicians0 decades
  34. 34Rose McGowanRose McGowanborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors0 decades
  35. 35George FloydGeorge Floyd1973–2020 · 🇺🇸 United States · Musicians0 decades
  36. 36Kevin FeigeKevin Feigeborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors0 decades
  37. 37Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of NorwayMette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norwayborn 1973 · 🇳🇴 Norway · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  38. 38Andrew LincolnAndrew Lincolnborn 1973 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Actors0 decades
  39. 39Portia de RossiPortia de Rossiborn 1973 · 🇦🇺 Australia · Actors0 decades
  40. 40Roberto AyalaRoberto Ayalaborn 1973 · 🇦🇷 Argentina · Footballers2 decades
  41. 41Tara StrongTara Strongborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors0 decades
  42. 42Jay-Jay OkochaJay-Jay Okochaborn 1973 · 🇳🇬 Nigeria · Footballers0 decades
  43. 43NasNasborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Musiciansnot measured—
  44. 44Christian VieriChristian Vieriborn 1973 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Footballers3 decades
  45. 45Roberto MartínezRoberto Martínezborn 1973 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Footballersnot measured—
  46. 46Corey TaylorCorey Taylorborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Musicians0 decades
  47. 47Sean PaulSean Paulborn 1973 · Musicians0 decades
  48. 48Tyra BanksTyra Banksborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors2 decades
  49. 49Edgar DavidsEdgar Davidsborn 1973 · Footballers0 decades
  50. 50Yorgos LanthimosYorgos Lanthimosborn 1973 · Directors0 decades
  51. 51Claude MakeléléClaude Makeléléborn 1973 · 🇫🇷 France · Footballersnot measured—
  52. 52Valerii ZaluzhnyiValerii Zaluzhnyiborn 1973 · Politiciansnot measured—
  53. 53Brad RenfroBrad Renfro1982–2008 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors0 decades
  54. 54Sasha AlexanderSasha Alexanderborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors0 decades
  55. 55Makoto ShinkaiMakoto Shinkaiborn 1973 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Directors0 decades
  56. 56Leslie BibbLeslie Bibbborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors0 decades
  57. 57Dave ChappelleDave Chappelleborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Comedians2 decades
  58. 58Ole Gunnar SolskjærOle Gunnar Solskjærborn 1973 · 🇳🇴 Norway · Footballers0 decades
  59. 59Jan KollerJan Kollerborn 1973 · Footballers0 decades
  60. 60Stephenie MeyerStephenie Meyerborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers1 decades
  61. 61Holly Marie CombsHolly Marie Combsborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors0 decades
  62. 62Stephen GrahamStephen Grahamborn 1973 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Actorsnot measured—
  63. 63Shannon ElizabethShannon Elizabethborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors0 decades
  64. 64Brian Austin GreenBrian Austin Greenborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actorsnot measured—
  65. 65DidaDidaborn 1973 · 🇧🇷 Brazil · Footballers5 decades
  66. 66Guillaume CanetGuillaume Canetborn 1973 · 🇫🇷 France · Actors2 decades
  67. 67EdgeEdgeborn 1973 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Athletesnot measured—
  68. 68Robert PiresRobert Piresborn 1973 · 🇫🇷 France · Footballers0 decades
  69. 69Tori SpellingTori Spellingborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors0 decades
  70. 70Ioan GruffuddIoan Gruffuddborn 1973 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Actorsnot measured—
  71. 71Paddy ConsidinePaddy Considineborn 1973 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Actorsnot measured—
  72. 72Hiromu ArakawaHiromu Arakawaborn 1973 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Artistsnot measured—
  73. 73Jennifer EspositoJennifer Espositoborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actorsnot measured—
  74. 74Rogério CeniRogério Ceniborn 1973 · 🇧🇷 Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  75. 75Oscar De La HoyaOscar De La Hoyaborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Athletes1 decades
  76. 76Peter FacinelliPeter Facinelliborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors0 decades
  77. 77Omar EppsOmar Eppsborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors0 decades
  78. 78Sharlto CopleySharlto Copleyborn 1973 · 🇿🇦 South Africa · Actors0 decades
  79. 79Radha MitchellRadha Mitchellborn 1973 · 🇦🇺 Australia · Actors0 decades
  80. 80Roselyn SánchezRoselyn Sánchezborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actorsnot measured—
  81. 81Queen Mathilde of BelgiumQueen Mathilde of Belgiumborn 1973 · Historical Figures0 decades
  82. 82Nikolai ValuevNikolai Valuevborn 1973 · Politiciansnot measured—
  83. 83Matteo SalviniMatteo Salviniborn 1973 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians2 decades
  84. 84Takeshi KaneshiroTakeshi Kaneshiroborn 1973 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Actorsnot measured—
  85. 85Yasiin BeyYasiin Beyborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Musicians0 decades
  86. 86Jason KiddJason Kiddborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Basketball Players1 decades
  87. 87Jason David FrankJason David Frank1973–2022 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actorsnot measured—
  88. 88Indira VarmaIndira Varmaborn 1973 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Actorsnot measured—
  89. 89Steven OggSteven Oggborn 1973 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Actorsnot measured—
  90. 90Kevin McKiddKevin McKiddborn 1973 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Actorsnot measured—
  91. 91Rian JohnsonRian Johnsonborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Directors0 decades
  92. 92Stephen DorffStephen Dorffborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actorsnot measured—
  93. 93GACKTGACKTborn 1973 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Musiciansnot measured—
  94. 94Jorge GarciaJorge Garciaborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actors0 decades
  95. 95Kathleen RobertsonKathleen Robertsonborn 1973 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Actorsnot measured—
  96. 96Rachel MaddowRachel Maddowborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Journalists1 decades
  97. 97Jack DavenportJack Davenportborn 1973 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Actorsnot measured—
  98. 98Brendan RodgersBrendan Rodgersborn 1973 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Footballers0 decades
  99. 99Seth MeyersSeth Meyersborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Comediansnot measured—
  100. 100Anson MountAnson Mountborn 1973 · 🇺🇸 United States · Actorsnot measured—

How this is measured

  • Placing people in time. Each person belongs to the century in which they were most active — around age 35, and never after their death.
  • Who ranks highest. Within a century, people are ranked where two independent signals agree: how many of the world’s Wikipedia language editions cover them, and how many people actually read about them. Article counts alone can be lifted by a person’s own circle; readers cannot.
  • Fame in print. The curves count how often a name appears in Google Books from 1800 to 2019, as a share of all the words printed each year, in the person’s own language wherever that corpus exists. Those decades are over, so each measurement is made once and kept.
  • What is left out. A lifetime is measured only from 1820, when there is enough print to judge; the five years after a death are skipped as obituaries; and a name shared with someone equally notable is credited to neither.