1940 births

David Robert Plante (born March 4, 1940, in Providence, Rhode Island) is an American novelist, diarist, and memoirist of both French-Canadian and North American Indian descent.

Julie Anne Payne (July 10, 1940 – June 7, 2019) was an American actress who appeared in television and films from 1959 to 1967.

Takeshi Fuji (藤猛, born Paul Takeshi Fujii on July 6, 1940) is a Hawaiian-born Japanese former professional boxer. He is a former Lineal, WBA and WBC super lightweight (light welterweight) champion.

Giles Alexander Esmé Gordon (23 May 1940 – 14 November 2003) was a Scottish literary agent and writer, based for most of his career in London.

Claire Bretécher (French: [bʁəteʃe]; 17 April 1940 – 10 February 2020) was a French cartoonist, known particularly for her portrayals of women and gender issues. Her creations included Les Frustrés, and the unimpressed teenager Agrippine.

David Nyhan (December 23, 1940 – January 23, 2005), born Charles David Nyhan Jr., was a journalist and biographer, whose op-ed column ran in The Boston Globe newspaper for many years. He graduated from Harvard College where he played varsity football.His column was syndicated to more than 16 newspapers and magazines by Creators Syndicate, and after working for The Boston Globe for 32 years, he retired in 2001.
Boston-area professor and editor Bill Ketter remarked "For David Nyhan, giving voice to the voiceless was intuitive." He covered national politics and was a frequent source for commentary on presidential races and on the New Hampshire primary in particular.
In his last column, he wrote: "The thing I'll miss most is the chance to shine a little flashlight on a dark corner, where a wrong was done to a powerless peon, where a scarred politician maybe deserved a better fate, where the process went awry, or the mob needed to be calmed down and herded in another direction."
Nyhan died suddenly aged 64 on January 23, 2005, at his home in Brookline, suffering a heart attack after shoveling snow.

Michael Fedderson (December 7, 1940 – January 28, 2016), known as Mike Minor, was an American actor best known for his role as Steve Elliott on Petticoat Junction (1966–1970).

Christopher Bernau (born Herbert Augustine Bernau, June 2, 1940 – June 14, 1989) was an American actor.

Michel Demaret (18 January 1940 – 9 November 2000) was a Belgian politician.

Michael Cole (born July 3, 1940) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Pete Cochran on the television crime drama The Mod Squad (1968–1973). He is the surviving member of the original cast.