Famous Birthdays·January 7·Liam Aiken
Liam Aiken

USLiam Aiken

A former child actor who navigated Hollywood's whims with grounded poise, forever remembered as the solemn heart of the Baudelaire orphans.

Born 1990 (age 36)·American actor·Birthday: January 7·Millennials

Photo: RealTVfilms · CC BY-SA 3.0

Biography

Liam Aiken entered the public eye as one of those preternaturally composed child actors, holding his own opposite screen giants like Susan Sarandon and Julia Roberts in 'Stepmom.' His early career was marked by a thoughtful, melancholic presence that set him apart from more exuberant young performers. This quality found its perfect match in Lemony Snicket's 'A Series of Unfortunate Events,' where he played Klaus Baudelaire, the bookish and resilient eldest brother. Aiken captured Klaus's intelligence and weary determination, becoming the emotional anchor of the fantastical film. Unlike many child stars, he sidestepped the typical trajectory, consciously stepping back from the Hollywood mainstream to pursue a more measured path. He continued acting selectively, often in independent films, demonstrating a clear preference for interesting roles over fame. His career reflects a quiet, deliberate artistry, leaving a lasting impression from a relatively small but memorable body of work.

Millennials

1981–1996

The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.

Liam was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.

#1 When Liam Was Born

The biggest hits of 1990

#1 Movie

Home Alone

Best Picture

Dances with Wolves

#1 TV Show

Roseanne

Liam's Life & Times

The world at every milestone

1990Born

Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies

Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school

Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released

Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager

US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed

Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive

Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet

Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote

Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis

Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21

Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East

Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30

COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world

Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump

Key Achievements

  • Portrayed Klaus Baudelaire in the major film adaptation 'Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events' (2004).
  • Starred as Ben Harrison in the family film 'Good Boy!' (2003), which was a commercial success.
  • Acted alongside Tom Hanks and Paul Newman in the critically acclaimed crime drama 'Road to Perdition' (2002).
  • Played a significant supporting role in the drama 'Stepmom' (1998) with Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon.

Did You Know?

He was homeschooled from the sixth grade onward to accommodate his acting schedule.

Aiken provided the voice for the character of Nod in the animated film 'The Ant Bully' (2006).

He is an avid photographer and has exhibited his work.

He took a hiatus from acting to attend college at The New School in New York City.

“I was always drawn to characters who were a little bit on the outside.”

— Liam Aiken

Also Born on January 7

See all 100 famous birthdays →

Dustin Diamond

Dustin Diamond

1977

Caster Semenya

Caster Semenya

1991

John Thune

John Thune

1961

Eden Hazard

Eden Hazard

1991

Aleksandr Dugin

Aleksandr Dugin

1962

David Caruso

David Caruso

1956

Blue Ivy Carter

Blue Ivy Carter

2012

Bernadette Soubirous

Bernadette Soubirous

1844

Gerald Durrell

Gerald Durrell

1925

Jann Wenner

Jann Wenner

1946

Andy Burnham

Andy Burnham

1970

Brett Dalton

Brett Dalton

1983

AboutPrivacyTermsContact

© 2026 oresth.com