Desmond Tutu, born on October 7, 1931, is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning cleric and activist from South Africa. Tutu was the first black Anglican Dean of Johannesburg, in 1975

In addition to being a religious leader, Tutu has written numerous sermons and co-authored many books. He has also made appearances on radio and television shows like The Charlie Rose Show, Our Story Our Voice, Breakfast with Frost, The South Bank Show, The Daily Show and For the Bible Tells Me So.

Tutu is a staunch supporter of health and human rights. He opened the Desmond Tutu HIV Centre in 2003, in Cape Town. The Desmond Tutu TB Centre was founded that same year at Stellenbosch University. Tutu himself was afflicted with TB as a child, and has remained active in helping those that have been touched by the disease.

Tutu has received numerous awards throughout his life. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on October 16, 1984, for his contribution towards resolving the issue of aparthied. Three years later he was awarded the Pacem in Terris Award. Then in 1992, he was awarded the Bishop John T. Walker Distinguished Humanitarian Service Award. He also received the Gandhi Peace Prize in 2005.

• Born: 7 October 1931

• 1975: First black Anglican Dean of Johannesburg in 1975

• 1984: Nobel peace prize in 1984 for speaking out against apartheid

• 1986: Elected Archbishop of Cape Town

• 1995: Leads Truth and Reconciliation Commission to gather evidence of apartheid-era crimes