* Austin Osman Spare ( 1886 – 1956 ), English artist and magician

* 1956 – Sebastian Spreng, Argentinean artist and journalist

* 1956 – Dilip Vengsarkar, Indian cricketer and administrator

* 1956 – Andy García, Cuban actor

* 1956 – Herbert Grönemeyer, German singer

* 1956 – Former Vice President and Senator Alben Barkley dies during a speech in Virginia.

* 1956 – Lars von Trier, Danish director

* 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.

* 1956 – Stepfanie Kramer, American actress

* 1878 – Aino Kallas, Finnish-Estonian author ( d. 1956 )

* 1956 – Fulvio Melia, Italian-American physicist, astrophysicist, and author

* 1956 – Jim Neidhart, American wrestler

* 1956 – Isabel Pantoja, Spanish singer

* 2003 – Leslie Cheung, Hong Kong actor and singer ( b. 1956 )

* 1956 – Tom Leykis, American radio host

* 1956 – Kirk Brandon, English singer-songwriter and guitarist ( Theatre of Hate, Spear of Destiny and Dead Men Walking )

* 1956 – Balwinder Sandhu, Indian cricketer

* 1956 –, the world's first successful container ship, leaves Port Newark, New Jersey for Houston, Texas.

Prominent leaders include co-founders Lucien Febvre ( 1878 – 1956 ) and Marc Bloch ( 1886 – 1944 ).

* 1867 – Emil Nolde, German painter ( d. 1956 )

* 1956 – Chris Foreman, English guitarist and songwriter ( Madness )

* 1956 – David Grant, English singer ( Linx )

* 1956 – Branscombe Richmond, American actor

* 1956 – Cecilia Roth, Argentine actress

* 1916 – Johnny Claes, Belgian race car driver ( d. 1956 )

Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Johnny Unitas was the Baltimore Colts ' starting quarterback from 1956 to 1972.

* Johnny Unitas ( 1979 ) 1956 – 1972

In 1956 the arrival of rockabilly was underlined by the success of songs like " Folsom Prison Blues " by Johnny Cash, " Blue Suede Shoes " by Perkins and " Heartbreak Hotel " by Presley.

* 1956 – Johnny Hickman, American singer-songwriter and guitarist ( Cracker )

Chuck Berry, with " Maybellene " ( 1955 ), " Roll over Beethoven " ( 1956 ), " Rock and Roll Music " ( 1957 ) and " Johnny B. Goode " ( 1958 ), refined and developed the major elements that made rock and roll distinctive, focusing on teen life and introducing guitar solos and showmanship that would be a major influence on subsequent rock music.

After her role in RKO's Sudden Fear, Crawford appeared in films ranging from the camp western film Johnny Guitar ( 1954 ) to the drama Autumn Leaves ( 1956 ), opposite a young Cliff Robertson, a movie which showed Crawford in a great many kissing scenes which shocked some audiences.

He also made guest appearances on other Los Angeles-based shows, such as Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar and landed a starring role in CBS's Fort Laramie ( 1956 ), which depicted 19th-century life at old Fort Laramie.

A few of the many Carolina League players who have gone on to star in the Major Leagues are: Johnny Bench ( Peninsula, 1966 ), Wade Boggs ( Winston-Salem, 1977 ), Barry Bonds ( Prince William, 1985 ), Rod Carew ( Wilson, 1966 ), Dock Ellis ( Kinston, 1965 ), Dwight Evans ( Winston-Salem, 1971 ), Dwight Gooden ( Lynchburg, 1983 ), Andruw Jones ( Durham, 1996 ), Chipper Jones ( Durham, 1992 ), Willie McCovey ( Danville, 1956 ), Joe Morgan ( Durham, 1963 ), Dave Parker ( Salem, 1972 ), Tony Pérez ( Rocky Mount, 1962 ), Andy Pettitte ( Prince William, 1993 ), Jorge Posada ( Prince William, 1993 ), Darryl Strawberry ( Lynchburg, 1981 ), Bernie Williams ( Prince William, 1988 ), and Carl Yastrzemski ( Raleigh, 1959 ).

The 2010 tribute Million Dollar Quartet is based on the famous photograph of Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis grouped round Elvis Presley at the piano, the night when the four joined in an impromptu jam at Sun Record's one-room sound studio, the " Million Dollar Quartet " of 4 December 1956.

Sun issued more Perkins songs in 1956: " Boppin ' the Blues "/" All Mama's Children " ( Sun 243 ), the B side co-written with Johnny Cash, " Dixie Fried "/" I'm Sorry, I'm Not Sorry " ( Sun 249 ).

Among the brightest stars of early Australian rock and roll was Johnny O ' Keefe, who formed a band in 1956 ; his hit Wild One made him the first Australian rock ' n ' roller to reach the national charts.

For his next fight, in 1956, Basilio lost the title in Chicago to Johnny Saxton by a decision in 15.

* Jungle Jim ( 1955 – 1956 ), starring Johnny Weissmuller

From the late 1940s he played in more prestigious pictures, including Captain from Castile starring Tyrone Power, Key Largo with Humphrey Bogart, ( 1948 ), Lust for Gold with Glenn Ford ( 1949 ), Broken Arrow ( 1950 ) with James Stewart, War Arrow ( 1953 ) with Maureen O ' Hara, Jeff Chandler and Noah Beery, Jr., Drums Across the River ( 1954 ), Walk the Proud Land ( 1956 ) with Audie Murphy and Anne Bancroft, Alias Jesse James ( 1959 ) with Bob Hope, and Indian Paint ( 1964 ) with Johnny Crawford.

In 1956 they were offered a spot in the Winifred Atwell show with material written by Johnny Speight and this was a success.

Early press reports, dating back to 1956, claimed that Johnny attended Humes High School with Elvis Presley, which was not true.

The song was recorded by Johnny Burnette in 1956 and The Yardbirds in 1965.

* Namely You — by Johnny Mercer & Gene de Paul ( 1956 ) Commander Publications

* Love in a Home — by Johnny Mercer & Gene de Paul ( 1956 ) Commander Publications

* If I Had My Druthers — by Johnny Mercer & Gene de Paul ( 1956 ) Commander Publications

* Jubilation T. Cornpone — by Johnny Mercer & Gene de Paul ( 1956 ) Commander Publications

* Johnny Owen ( 1956 – 1980 ), boxer

* 1956: Johnny Mathis ( Johnny Mathis )