Paul Ekman is an American psychologist recognized for his pioneering work in the study of emotions and their relation to facial expressions. Born on February 15, 1934, Ekman is best known for developing the Facial Action Coding System (FACS), a comprehensive tool for objectively measuring facial movements. His research has delved into the biological and cultural influence on human emotion, and he has produced significant work on the universality of facial expressions across different cultures. His contributions to understanding nonverbal communication and deception detection have had widespread implications in various fields, including psychology, forensics, and social science. Ekman's work has also influenced popular culture, with the TV series "Lie to Me" being inspired by his research and methodologies.