Top Ten Celebrities Born in1968
 

Tony Hawk is synonymous with professional skateboarding. In addition to putting his name on skateboarding video games, tours, and skateboard accessories, Hawk redefined the concept of pro skateboarding. In fact, many people may not have even realized professional skateboarding existed before Hawk made the scene.

As the opening theme of the show that made him famous goes: “In West Philadelphia born and raised.” But this member of our top celebrities born in 1968 didn’t spend his days on the playground. Rather, he spent them developing a rap persona which led to a hit sitcom which eventually led to him becoming one of the biggest movie stars of his generation, with starring roles in blockbusters like Men in Black, Independence Day and I am Legend.

Tracy Morgan, born in the Bronx in 1968, got his big break when he got the nod to join the performers of Saturday Night Live for the 1996 season. He made the most of his opportunity, becoming a featured player and remaining on the show for eight seasons, filling out his resume with a number of movie roles along the way. Today, he shows his comedy chops alongside Tina Fey in the critically acclaimed sitcom 30 Rock.

Not all of the celebrities born in 1968 were American, of course. Although British-born Daniel Craig had been acting as far back as 1992, he didn’t really become a household name until 2006. That’s when he won the starring role as the new James Bond, taking the reins from Pierce Brosnan. In Casino Royale, Craig showed a new, no-nonsense type of Bond, and paved the way for more great acting roles to come.

Scott McClellan grew up to become one of President George W. Bush’s White House Press Secretaries, replacing Ari Fleischer. After completing his service, he wrote a scathing tell-all book, "What Happened," about that experience.

Another of our 1968 celebrities not born in the United States, Australian Hugh Jackman, for all his talents, probably wouldn’t be quite as well known if it weren’t for Dougray Scott. Scott, a popular Scottish actor, was slated to play a big budget role in a new movie but had to drop out due to other commitments. Jackman stepped in as his replacement in X-Men, portraying bad-ass loner Wolverine, and the rest was history.

As a favor to a friend, Tommy Lasorda, the legendary Dodgers manager, selected Mike Piazza with his last pick in the 1988 draft. And what a favor it turned out to be! Piazza went on to become one of the best hitting catchers of all time, with 12 all-star appearances and 396 home runs over his career with the Dodgers, Mets, Padres, Marlins and A’s.

Gary Coleman is certainly best known for his portrayal of Arnold Jackson on the classic sitcom, Diff’rent Strokes. Although Coleman worked continuously throughout his life, his role choices were limited by a congenital kidney defect that stunted his growth at a young age. Still, he remained an American icon who once ran for Governor of California. Sadly, Coleman passed away in 2010 due to head trauma after a fall.

British writer Warren Ellis may not be a household name, but he is well known among the comic book and graphic novel community, having penned such critically acclaimed works as the Authority, Transmetropolitan and Planetary.