* 1955 – Rob Epstein, American filmmaker and journalist

* 1955 – Keith Hunter Jesperson, Canadian serial killer

* 1955 – Cathy Jones, Canadian comedian

* 1955 – Blind Mississippi Morris, American blues musician

* 1955 – Michael Rooker, American actor

* 1955 – The polio vaccine, developed by Dr. Jonas Salk, is declared safe and effective.

* 1955 – Nicolas Hulot, French journalist

* 1955 – Dimitra Liani, Greek air hostess, widow of Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou

* 1955 – Laura Fygi, Dutch singer

* 1955 – Robert Richardson, American cinematographer

* 1955 – Diana Scarwid, American actress

* 1956 – After going bankrupt in 1955, the American broadcaster DuMont Television Network makes its final broadcast, a boxing match from St. Nicholas Arena in New York in the Boxing from St. Nicholas Arena series.

* 1868 – Paul Claudel, French poet ( d. 1955 )

* 1881 – Alexander Fleming, Scottish scientist, Nobel Prize laureate ( d. 1955 )

* 1955 – Gregory Bryant-Bey, American convicted murderer ( d. 2008 )

* 1955 – Rusty Magee, American composer ( d. 2003 )

* 1955 – Peter Schmuck, American columnist

* 1955 – John E. Sweeney, American politician

* 1955 – Keith Ahlers, English race car driver

* 1955 – Hideo Fukuyama, Japanese race car driver

* 1955 – Paul Greengrass, English director

* 1865 – John Radecki, Australian artist ( d. 1955 )

* 1955 – Caleb Carr, American author and historian

* 1955 – Tim Dunigan, American actor

* 1955 – Tony Godden, English footballer

* Jacob " Jack " J. Lew, ( born 1955 ) former Director of the U. S. OMB, and now for U. S. Deputy Secretary of State

Hillman's successor as head of the ACWA, Jacob Potofsky, took a far less visible role within the CIO, a federation which united with the AF of L in 1955.

Lombardo wrote the words and music with John Jacob Loeb for Guy Lombardo's stage productions of Arabian Nights ( 1954, 1955 ), Paradise Island ( 1961, 1962 ), and Mardi Gras ( 1965, 1966 ) at Jones Beach, New York.

Some of the most important Yiddish playwrights of the first era included: Jacob Gordin ( 1853 – 1909 ), known for plays such as The Yiddish King Lear and for his translations and adaptations of Tolstoy, Solomon Libin ( 1872 – 1955 ), David Pinski ( 1872 – 1959 ), and Leon Kobrin ( 1872 – 1946 ).

In Birmingham in 1955 Wick worked with Gordon Jacob in premiering the famous trombone concerto.

In 1955, Joseph's 23-year-old brother, Edmond Safra, and his father, Jacob Safra, started working in Brazil by financing assets in São Paulo.

Jacob " Jack " Hoogendyk ( born 31 July 1955 ) is a Republican politician, a former member of the Michigan House of Representatives and 2012 candidate for the U. S. House of Representatives in Michigan.

On 28 November 1936, the BBC opened its TV service at Alexandra Palace and in 1955 with the opening of Lew Grade's London weekend franchise Associated Television ( ATV ), the Wood Green Empire in Lymington Avenue was home to variety programmes on Independent Television ( ITV ), one of which was the ' Arthur Haynes Show ', starring the host himself and his straight man Nicholas Parsons.

William Carlos Williams was another who had a strong impact on the Beat poets, encouraging poets like Lew Welch and writing an introduction for the book publication of Ginsberg's Howl ( 1955 ).

* Lew Hayman – builder, 1975 ( Toronto Argonauts as coach 1932 – 40, later as executive 1955 – 83 ; Toronto RCAF Hurricanes as coach 1941 – 45 ; Montreal Alouettes as club organizer, coach, GM, and part owner 1946 – 54 ).

Promoter and former tennis great Jack Kramer tried unsuccessfully to sign the " Whiz Kids " ( Lew Hoad and Rosewall ) to professional contracts in late 1955.

By 1955 he was performing with the George Mitchell Singers in Blackpool, with the impresario Lew Grade as his agent.

The organisation was originally founded as Associated TeleVision ( ATV ) in 1955 by Lew Grade.

Mr. Reama, who retired as vice president of the American Screw Co. in 1955 said, `` Both parties in the last election told us that we need a five per cent growth in the gross national product -- but neither told us how to achieve it ''.

* Mark Mendoza ( born 1955 ), American bass player nicknamed " The Animal "

* 1955 – Corey Burton, American voice actor

* 1866 – Matthew Henson, American explorer ( d. 1955 )

* 1955 – Bruce Bochy, American baseball player and manager

* 1882 – Marion Bauer, American composer, writer, and critic ( d. 1955 )

* 1868 – Bernarr Macfadden, American bodybuilder, author, and publisher, founded Macfadden Publications ( d. 1955 )

* 1955 – Ann M. Martin, American author

* 1955 – Terry Taylor, American wrestler

* 1955 – Peter Gallagher, American actor, singer, and writer

* 1955 – Ned Yost, American baseball player and manager

* 1955 – Black teenager Emmett Till is murdered in Mississippi, galvanizing the nascent American Civil Rights Movement.

* 1920 – Charlie Parker, American saxophonist and composer ( d. 1955 )