Home » Today in History » Famous Birthdays

Famous Birthdays on this Day in History

Birthdays in History for Saturday 17th May 2014

◀ Apr May Jun ▶
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30	31
All Events Birthdays
Weddings Deaths

Birthdays 1 - 253 of 253
1155 - Jien, Japanese poet and historian (d. 1225)
1443 - Edmund, Earl of Rutland, brother of Kings Edward IV of England and Richard III of England
1451 - Engelbert II, earl of Nassau-Dillenburg-Dietz/viceroy of Luxembourg
1490 - Albrecht von Hohenzollern, 1st Duke of Prussia
1551 - Martin Delrio, Flemish theologian and occultist (d. 1608)
1568 - Christoph Thomas Walliser, composer
1576 - Ferdinand van Apshoven, the Older, Flemish painter, baptized
1628 - Archduke Ferdinand Charles of Austria, Regent of the Tyrol (d. 1662)
1682 - Bartholomew Roberts, Welsh pirate (d. 1722)
1691 - Antoine Court, French reformed theologist
1706 - Andreas Felix von Oefele, German historian and librarian (d. 1780)
1718 - Robert Darcy, 4th Earl of Holderness, English diplomat and politician (d. 1778)
1732 - Francesco Pasquale Ricci, composer
1741 - John Penn, US attorney (signed Declaration of Independence) [OS=May 6]
1743 - Seth Warner, American revolutionary leader (d. 1784)
1749 - Edward Jenner, England, physician, discovered vaccination
1758 - John St Aubyn, British fossil collector (d. 1839)
1768 - Caroline, Brunswick, Queen Consort of King George IV
1768 - Henry Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey, English general (d. 1854)

Duke of Prussia Albrecht von Hohenzollern (1490) 1794 - Anna Brownell Jameson, Dublin, writer
1796 - Martinus J Niewindt, bishop of Curacao (advocate for fair treatment and abolition of slavery)
1800 - Carl Friedrich Zollner, composer
1803 - Robert Smith Surtees, novelist
1804 - Ottho G Heldring, Dutch vicar/reformer (Heldring Institutions)
1808 - Charles-Louis-Adolphe Vogel, composer
1812 - Joseph Warren Revere, Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1880
1819 - Johann Nepomuk Kafka, composer
1821 - Sebastian Kneipp, German naturopathist (d. 1897)
1823 - Charlotte Helen Sainton-Dolby, contralto/composer
1836 - Joseph Norman Lockyer, discoverer (Helium)/founder (Nature magazine)
1836 - Wilhelm Steinitz, Austria, world chess champion (1866-94)
1836 - Virginie Loveling, Belgian writer and poet (d. 1923)
1844 - Julius Wellhausen, German biblical scholar (d. 1918)
1846 - Edmund Bishop, English secretary of Thomas Carlyle
1850 - Antonio Scontrino, composer
1867 - Gerrit Mannoury, Dutch mathematician/philosopher
1868 - Horace Elgin Dodge, American automobile manufacturer (d. 1920)
1871 - Henricus P Bremmer, art historian (Modern Kunstwerken)
1873 - Dorothy Miller Richardson, Abingdon Berkshire, novelist
1873 - Henri Barbusse, Asnieres France, novelist (Le Feu)
1876 - Alban Collignon, Belgian sport journalist
1879 - Simon Petlyura, Ukrainian independence fighter (d. 1926)
1886 - Alfonso XIII of Spain (d. 1941)
1888 - A P "Tich" Freeman, cricket leg-spinner (legend for Kent & England)
1888 - Selmer Jackson, Iowa, actor (Life & Legend of Wyatt Earp)
1889 - Alfonso Reyes, Mexican poet/historian/diplomat (Higenia Cruel)
1890 - Philip James, composer
1891 - Princess Alexandra, Duchess of Fife (d. 1959)
1896 - Brazilio da Cunha Luz Itibere, composer
1896 - Hannah Tillich, writer
1897 - Odd Hassel, Norwegian chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1981)
1898 - Alfred Joseph Casson, Canadian painter (d. 1992)
1899 - Ralf Harolde, Pittsburgh PA, actor (Framed, Smart Money, Tip-off)
1900 - Nicolai Berezowsky, composer
1900 - Ruhollah Khomeini, Iran's ayatollah (1979-89)
1901 - Werner Egk, Auchsesheim Germany, composer (Die Zaubergeige)
1902 - John Vincent, composer
1903 - Douglas Packard, British Lt General

Baseball player Cool Papa Bell (1903) 1903 - James "Cool Papa" Bell, Starkville, Mississippi, baseball center fielder in Negro league baseball, considered by many to have been one of the fastest men ever to play the game (d. 1991)
1904 - Jean Gabin, French actor (d. 1976)
1905 - John Patrick, screenwriter
1906 - Eric Mensforth, president (Westland Aircraft)
1906 - Zinka Milanov, Croatian soprano (d. 1989)
1907 - Charles Cawley, British chief scientist/minister of power
1907 - Horace McMahon, South Norwalk Ct, actor (Martin Kane Private Eye)
1907 - Ilona Schacherer Elek, Budapest Hung, fencer (Olympic-gold-1936, 48)
1908 - Sigismund Toduta, composer
1908 - Zinka Milanov, Zagreb Yugoslavia, soprano (Ljublama Opera 1927)
1909 - Edward Playfair, British senior civil servant
1909 - Magda Schneider, actress (Eva, Going Gay, Be Mine Tonight)
1911 - Knut Anders Haukfield, SOE Operative
1911 - Maureen O'Sullivan, Boyle Ireland, actress (Tarzan, Pride & Prejudice)
1911 - Lisa Fonssagrives, Swedish-born supermodel (d. 1992)
1912 - Archibald Cox, special prosecutor (Watergate)
1912 - Clarence "Ace" Parker, NFL QB (Brooklyn, Boston Yanks)
1912 - Sandor Vegh, violinist teacher conductor
1913 - Alec Ogilvie, CEO (Powell Duffryn)
1913 - Lord Hirshfield, chartered accountant
1913 - Hans Ruesch, Swiss racing driver (d. 2007)
1914 - Guido Masanetz, composer
1915 - Joseph D Craggs, electrical engineer
1916 - Cornelis A Eman, Aruban politician
1916 - John Hinde, photographer/circus promoter
1918 - Birgit Nilsson, Karup Sweden, operatic soprano (Elektra, Salome)
1919 - Antonio Aguilar, Mexican singer and actor (d. 2007)
1919 - Merle Miller, American biographer (d. 1986)
1920 - Harriet Van Horne, Syracuse NY, columnist/panelist (Leave it to Girls)
1920 - Lydia Wideman, Finland, 10K cross country skier (Olympic-gold-1952)
1921 - Dennis Brain, London England, french-hornist (Serenade)
1921 - John Garlick, British senior civil servant
1921 - Bob Merrill, American composer and lyricist (d. 1998)
1923 - Michael Beetham, Marshal (RAF)
1923 - Miles Wingate, deputy master (Trinity House)
1923 - Peter Mennin[i], Erie Pennsylvania, composer (Moby Dick)
1924 - Frantisek Kovaricek, composer
1924 - Lord Tombs, CEO (Rolls Royce)
1924 - Thomas Baird, vice-admiral
1926 - Cicely Berry, voice director (Royal Shakespeare Company)
1926 - David Young, Lt-Gen/CEO (Cairn Tech)
1926 - Earl of Airlie, KT
1926 - Geoffrey Caston, vice chancellor (U of South Pacific)
1926 - Lord Chamberlain, Earl of Airilet
1926 - Tenniel Evans, rev/actor (10 Rillington Place, My Brother's Keeper)
1927 - Ronald Halstead, deputy CEO (British Steel)
1928 - Donald Cameron Watt, historian
1928 - Ian Griggs, bishop (Ludlow)
1928 - Vivian Moses, biotechnologist
1929 - Raymond Hide, geophysicist
1931 - Dewey Redman, jazz musician
1932 - Arthur Jones, principal (Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester)
1932 - Colin Hope, CEO (T/N)
1932 - Peter Burge, cricketer (dashing Australian batsman of 50's & 60's)
1932 - Rodric Braithwaite, British ambassador to USSR
1934 - Earl Morrall, NFL QB (Lions, Giants, Colts)
1935 - Dennis Christopher George Potter, playwright (Karaoke, Midnight Movie)
1935 - Ivan Slone, world-famous watchmaker
1936 - Dennis Hopper, KS, actor (True Grit, Blue Velvet, Easy Rider)
1936 - Lars Gustafsson, writer
1936 - Philippe Boesmans, composer
1937 - Hazel R. O'Leary, United States Secretary of Energy
1938 - Don Dolan, Staten Island NY, actor (Guy Lewis- General Hospital)
1938 - Jason Bernard, actor (Judge-Liar Liar)
1938 - Pervis Jackson, rocker (Spinners)
1938 - Trinus Riemersma, Dutch-Frisian writer (Conquest of Leeuwarden)
1939 - Hugh Dykes, MP
1939 - Wim de Bie, CEO (Simplistic Covenant)
1939 - Gary Paulsen, American author
1940 - Alan Kay, American computer scientist
1941 - David Howell Cope, composer
1941 - Malcom Hale, rocker
1941 - Miriam Margolyes, actress (Will Be)
1941 - Ben Nelson. American politician
1941 - Grace Zabriskie, American actress
1942 - Caroline Charles, fashion designer
1942 - Taj Mahal, NYC, singer/songwriter (Real Thing)
1943 - Johnny Warren, Australian Footballer (d. 2004)
1943 - Vicky Moscholiou, Greek singer (d. 2005)
1944 - Arif Butt, cricketer (pace bowler for Pakistan in three Tests 1964-65)
1944 - Canon P B Price, general secretary, USPG
1944 - Jesse Winchester, Shreveport La, singer/songwriter (Learn to Love it)
1944 - Paul Crossley, concert pianist
1945 - D A S Pennefather, Maj-General/Commandant (General Royal Marines)
1945 - George Miller, (Rep-D-CA, 1975- )
1946 - Sinaida Turchina, USSR, team handball (Olympic-gold-1976)
1946 - Udo Lindenberg, German musician
1946 - F. Paul Wilson, American novelist
1947 - John Traicos, cricketer (in Egypt South Africa 1970, Zimbabwe 1992-93)
1949 - Bill Bruford, English drummer (Yes, King Crimson-Red, Genesis)
1949 - Timothy Cordy, British director (Town/Country Planning Association)
1950 - A A Johnson, MP
1950 - Christian Lacroix, French couturier (Chic Frills)
1950 - Keith Bradley, MP
1950 - Howard Ashman, American lyricist (d. 1991)
1950 - Janez Drnovšek, Slovenian politician
1951 - I R Evans, CEO (Hyder, Welsh Water)
1951 - Simon Hughes, MP
1952 - Jody Pijper, Dutch (background) singer
1952 - Howard Hampton, Canadian politician
1953 - George Johnson, Los Angeles California, rocker (Brothers Johnson)
1953 - Kathleen Sullivan, Pasadena Ca, newscaster (ABC-TV, CBS Morning Show)
1953 - Nicholas Bacon, premier baronet of England
1953 - Yoko Shimada, Kumamota Japan, author (Kir Royal)/actress (Shogun)
1954 - John Iles, dolby supervisor (Elephant Man, Richard III)
1954 - Michael Roberts, jockey
1955 - Bill Paxton, actor (Brain Dead, Next of Kin, Indian Summer, True Lies)
1956 - Bob Saget, Phila, comedian (Full House, America's Funniest Home Video)
1956 - Sue Carpenter, TV presenter/journalist
1956 - Sugar Ray [Charles] Leonard, Rocky Mount North Carolina, boxer (Olympics-gold-76)
1956 - Dave Sim, Canadian cartoonist
1957 - Pascual Pérez, Dominican baseball player, (d. 2012)
1958 - Vincent Henar, Surinam, bassist (Fra Fra Sound)
1959 - Paul Di'anno, rocker (Iron Maiden Chingford, London V Early Vocalist
1959 - Jim Nantz, American broadcaster
1960 - Fiona Hutchison, Miami Fla, actress (One Life to Live, Guiding Light)
1960 - Lou DiBella, American boxing promoter

Singer-Songwriter Enya (1961) 1961 - Enya [Eithne Ní Bhraonáin], Gweedore, County Donegal, Irish singer and songwriter (A Day Without Rain)
1962 - Scott Case, NFL safety (Dallas Cowboys)
1962 - Tracey Bryn, rocker (Voice of Beehive-Let it Bee)
1962 - Craig Ferguson, Glasgow, Scottish actor, writer and comedian
1962 - Lise Lyng Falkenberg, Danish writer
1963 - Jon Koncak, NBA center (Orlando Magic)
1964 - Menno Oosting, Dutch tennis player (d. 1999)
1965 - Trent Reznor, musician (9 Inch Nails)
1965 - Richard Baumhammers, American spree killer
1966 - Danny Manning, NBA forward/center (Phoenix Suns)
1966 - Mark Kratzmann, Australia, tennis star
1966 - Mark Schmocker, Interlaken Switz, US team handball goalie (Oly-96)
1967 - Cameron Bancroft, actor (Beverly Hills 90210)
1967 - Debbie Dutch, Titusville NJ, actress (Hell's Paradox)
1968 - Tim Grunhard, NFL center (KC Chiefs)

Musician Trent Reznor (1965) 1969 - Aaron Ruffin, CFL defensive back (Hamilton Tiger Cats)
1969 - Craig Erickson, NFL quarterback (Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins)
1969 - Paige Turco, Boston MA, actress (Melanie-Guiding Light)
1969 - Ujesh Ranchod, cricketer (Zimbabwe off-spinner 1993)
1969 - Thom Filicia, American television personality
1969 - Alan Doyle, Canadian musician (Great Big Sea)
1970 - Alan Wetmore, CFL fullback (Montreal Alouettes)
1970 - Derrick Deese, NFL guard (SF 49ers)
1970 - Hubert Davis, NBA guard (Dallas Mavericks, NY Knicks)
1970 - Jim Cummins, Dearborn, NHL right wing (Chicago Blackhawks)
1970 - Jodie Rogers, Melbourne Victoria Australia, diver (Olympics-96)
1970 - John Karelse, soccer player (NAC)
1970 - Jordan Nathaniel M Knight, Mass, rocker (New Kids-Hangin' Tough)
1970 - Renzo Furlan, Italy, tennis star
1970 - Stefania Croce, Bergamo Italy, golfer (95 State Farm Rail Classic-11)
1970 - Todd Mundt, NBA center (Atlanta Hawks)
1970 - Matt Lindland, American mixed martial arts fighter
1971 - Bill Lindsay, Big Fork, NHL left wing (Florida Panthers)
1971 - Mark Williams, NFL linebacker (Jacksonville Jaguars)
1971 - Shaun Hart, Australian footballer
1972 - Elena Wagner, Sofia Bulgaria, tennis star (1996 ITF/Redbridge-GBR)
1972 - John Burrough, NFL defensive tackle (Atlanta Falcons)
1973 - Jay Riemersma, tight end (Buffalo Bills)
1973 - Josh Homme, American musician and songwriter
1973 - Matthew McGrory, American actor (d. 2005)
1973 - Sasha Alexander, American television actress
1973 - Steve Barakatt, Canadian composer
1974 - Marcia Turner, Cambridge Massachusetts, Miss America (Mass-Top 10-1996)
1974 - Wiki González, Venezuelan baseball player
1974 - Sendhil Ramamurthy, American actor
1975 - Cheick Kongo, French martial artist
1975 - Jonti Picking, British cartoonist
1975 - Kostas Sommer, Greek actor
1975 - Laura Voutilainen, Finnish singer
1975 - Alex Wright, German professional wrestler
1976 - Anna Windsor, Sydney NSW Australia, swimmer (Olympics-96)
1976 - Daniel Komen, Nyaru Kenya, 5k runner
1976 - Peter Devine, NYC, fencer-foil (Olympics-96)
1976 - José Guillén, Dominican baseball player
1976 - Lee-Hom Wang, American-born Taiwanese musician and composer
1977 - Jere Michael, Aspen Colo, figure skater (1994 National Jr champ)
1978 - John Foster, American baseball player
1978 - Paddy Kenny, Irish goalkeeper
1978 - Carlos Pena, Dominican baseball player
1979 - Wayne Thomas, English footballer
1980 - Davor Džalto, Serbian art historian
1980 - Dallas Taylor, American singer (Underoath)
1981 - Beñat Albizuri, Spanish cyclist
1981 - Giannis Taralidis, Greek footballer
1981 - R. J. Helton, American Idol finalist
1981 - Shiri Maimon, Israeli singer
1981 - Leon Osman, English footballer
1982 - Tony Parker, French-American basketball player
1983 - Nicky Hofs, Dutch footballer
1983 - Channing Frye, American basketball player
1983 - Jeremy Sowers, American baseball player
1984 - Christian Bolaños, Costa Rican footballer
1984 - Christine Robinson, Canadian water polo player
1985 - Matt Ryan, American football player
1985 - Derek Hough, American dancer and singer
1986 - Tahj Mowry, American actor
1988 - Nikki Reed, American actress
1990 - Leven Rambin, American actress

<< 16th May

— Famous Birthdays on this Day —

18th May >>