5 Famous People Born On Leap Day

Ja Rule's Grammy-nominated number one collaboration with Ashanti "Always On Time" was an anthem back in 2001 and the song will turn 15 this October, which makes me feel ridiculously old, but the rapper-turned-actor will celebrate just his 10th birthday next Monday. No, you haven't stepped through a wormhole in time like you're James Franco trying to save JFK — Ja Rule is a leapling, one of a few lucky celebrities born on Leap Day, aka that elusive calendar date, Feb. 29.

If you've ever wanted to just skip your birthday on a given year (I can hear my 30s from here), imagine skipping your special day 75 percent of your entire life. Of course, as Ja Rule's wife and doctor would likely tell us, Mr. Jeffrey Atkins, as his mother named him back in 1976, is just as world weary as any other man about to enter his 40s. Ja Rule can still hold out hope though that 2017 will bring his Hogwarts acceptance letter, as he won't officially turn 11 for another four years.

My final question for Ja Rule and all you other leaplings is — how does Facebook know when to tell people to wish you a happy birthday?? Here are famous leaplings you may have heard of.

1. Ja Rule

Of course, we just went over this — the rapper was born on Feb. 29, 1976, and will officially be turning 10 years old this year.

2. Dinah Shore

Back in the 30s and 40s, Dinah Shore was a darling of American television and music. She sang the hit song "Buttons and Bows" which stayed atop the charts for 10 weeks in 1948. Shortly after her death in 1994, her name appeared as one of many accomplished Jews in Adam Sandler's "Chanukah Song."

3. Mark Foster

This American musician might be better known to your ears as the front man for Foster The People. This year, Foster will celebrate his eighth birthday with a Power Rangers cake and trip to the roller skating rink with the rest of the eight year olds in the United States (I'm guessing).

4. Monte Kiffin

Though his son Lane is in the news more often these days, Monte Kiffin had quite the lengthy coaching career of his own as the Super Bowl champion defensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

5. Herman Hollerith

This scientist and statistician made a name for himself by inventing a line of machines that could tabulate and sort large amounts of data very quickly back in the late 1800s. Hollerith's machines were used under contract to help the government study census data. If he were still alive, Hollerith would be celebrating his 39th birthday this year.

Images: Getty Images (3); Paramount Pictures; Library of Congress