Happy Birthday, Kate Walsh! 13 Celebrities Who Were Born on Friday the 13th

Julia Louis-Dreyfuss

If you’re superstitious, you might want to avoid black cats and ladders for the rest of the day.

So why do we fear Friday the 13th, anyway (other than a certain horror flick)? National Geographic reports that one theory says “the trepidation surrounding Friday the 13th is rooted in religious beliefs surrounding the 13th guest at the Last Supper—Judas, the apostle said to have betrayed Jesus—and the crucifixion of Jesus on a Friday.” The two elements put together—13 and Friday—create one seemingly inauspicious day.

Related: Movies and TV Shows to Watch on Friday the 13th

And if you were wondering, fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskevidekatriaphobia. Meanwhile, selenophobia is a fear of the moon.

In honor of these superstitious events, we’ve rounded up 13 celebrities who were born on this so-called “cursed” day of Friday the 13th in our gallery. Legend has it that children born on Fridays the 13th will lead lives burdened with bad luck. But by our count, the fame, fortune and success of some of these stars who were born this day prove that superstition false.

Darius Rucker

Darius Rucker

The Hootie and the Blowfish frontman, 57, was born Friday, May 13, 1966.

Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen

Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen

Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen were both born on Friday, June 13, 1986, making them 37 years old.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for NRDC

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

On Friday, Jan. 13, 1961, Seinfeld and Veep star Julia Louis-Dreyfus, 62, was born in New York City.

Boardwalk Empire star Steve Buscemi

Steve Buscemi

Boardwalk Empire star Steve Buscemi came into this world Friday, Dec. 13, 1957. Today, he’s 65.

Christopher Plummer

Christopher Plummer

Oscar winner Christopher Plummer was born Friday, Dec. 13, 1929 in Toronto, Canada. He died Feb. 5, 2021.

Kat Dennings

Kat Dennings

Before becoming the star of 2 Broke Girls, Kat Dennings, 37, was born on Friday, June 13, 1986 (the same day as the Olsen twins).

Frances Conroy

Frances Conroy

Frances Conroy, of American Horror Story, was born on March 13, 1953, which makes her 70.

Max Weinberg

Max Weinberg

Bruce Springsteen’s drummer and Conan O’Brien’s cheerful former sidekick, Max Weinberg, 72, was born Friday, April 13, 1951.

Kate Walsh

Kate Walsh

Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice actress Kate Walsh, 56, was born Friday, Oct. 13, 1967.

Nate Silver

Nate Silver

One thing celebrity statistician Nate Silver, 45, couldn’t predict: his birthday. Silver was born Friday, Jan. 13, 1978.

Tony Dow

Tony Dow

Leave it to Beaver actor Tony Dow was born Friday, April 13, 1945. He died July 27, 2022. He was 77.

Didi Conn

Didi Conn

Before starring in Grease, Didi Conn, 72, came into this world Friday, July 13, 1951.

Peter Tork

Peter Tork

Was Peter Tork, the keyboardist and bass guitarist for the Monkees, a “believer” in the Friday the 13th superstition? We hope not, because he was born Friday, Feb. 13, 1942. He died 2019 at age 77.

Next, Do Bad Things Happen on Friday the 13th?