Famous Birthdays on May 12

Birthdays 1 - 200 of 237

• 1401 Emperor Shōkō, 101st Japanese Emperor (412-428) (d. 1428)
• 1496 Gustav I, King of Sweden (1523-60) who abolished Sweden's elective monarchy, born in Rydboholm Castle, Sweden (d. 1560)
• 1590 Cosimo II de Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany (d. 1621)

• 1626 Louis Hennepin, Flemish missionary who explorer the interior of North America, born in Ath, Spanish Netherlands (d. 1705)
• 1662 Jan Frans van Bloemen, Flemish landscape painter, born in Antwerp (d. 1749) baptism date
• 1670 Frederick Augustus I/ August II, the Strong, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland (reputed to have sired 355 children) (d. 1733)
• 1679 Giovanni Antonio Ricieri, Italian composer and castrato singer, born in Venice, Republic of Venice (d. 1746)
• 1700 Luigi Vanvitelli, Italian architect (Palace of Caserta), born in Naples, Kingdom of Naples (now Italy) (d. 1773)
• 1725 Louis Philippe I, Duke of Orléans, French Prince of the Bourbon House, born at the Palace of Versailles, France (d. 1785)
• 1739 Johann Baptist Wanhal [Jan Křtitel Vaňhal], Czech organist, cellist, composer, and teacher, born in Nechanice, Kingdom of Bohemia (d. 1813)
• 1751 Gaetano Manna, Italian composer, born in Naples, Kingdom of Naples (d. 1804)
• 1753 Giovanni Battista Viotti, Italian violonist and composer, born in Fontanetto Po, Savoia, Kingdom of Sardinia (d. 1824)
• 1754 Franz Anton Hoffmeister, German composer, born in Rottenburg am Neckar, Holy Roman Empire (d. 1812)
• 1767 Manuel de Godoy 'Prince of the Peace', Spanish statesman, 1st Secretary of State of Spain, born in Badajoz, Spain (d. 1851)
• 1790 [Johannes] Carsten Hauch, Danish poet and writer, born in Frederikshald, Norway (d. 1872)
• 1797 Johann Hermann Kufferath, German composer, born in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Duchy of Westphalia (d. 1864)

• 1803 Justus von Liebig, German agricultural and biological chemist who is considered the founder of organic chemistry, born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany (d. 1873)
• 1804 Robert Baldwin, Canadian politician (popularizer of responsible government in Canada), born in York, Upper Canada (d. 1858)
• 1806 Amos Beebe Eaton, American Brevet Major General (Union Army), born in Catskill, New York (d. 1877)
• 1806 Johan Vilhelm Snellman, Finnish journalist, statesman and nationalist, born in Stockholm, Sweden (d. 1881)
• 1812 Edward Lear, English landscape painter and poet (Complete Nonsense Book), born in London, England (d. 1888)
• 1812 Louis Ludwig Blenker, German-American Brigadier General (Union Army), born in Worms, Germany (d. 1863)
• 1813 Johann Czerski, German clergyman, founded German Catholicism, born in Warlubien, West Prussia (d. 1893)

• 1828 Gabriel Dante Rossetti, English Pre-Raphaelite figure poet and painter, born in London, England (d. 1882)
• 1829 Pavlos Carrer, Greek composer (Isabella d'Aspeno), born in Zakynthos, Greece (d. 1896)

• 1845 Gabriel Fauré, French organist, composer (Requiem; Ballade), and educator (Paris Conservatoire, 1905-20), born in Pamiers, France (d. 1924)
• 1848 Cyrill Kistler, German composer, educator, and music theorist, born in Großaitingen, Swabia, Germany (d. 1907)
• 1850 Henry Cabot Lodge, U.S. statesman, born in Beverly, Massachusetts (d. 1924)
• 1855 Anatoly Lyadov, Russian composer (From the Apocalypse; Bewitched Lake), conductor, and pedagogue (St. Petersburg Conservatory, 1878-1914), born in Saint Petersburg, Russia (d. 1914)
• 1861 Ivan Caryll [Félix Tilkin], Belgian composer of operetta and musical comedy (The Shop Girl; The Spring Chicken; The Pink Lady), born in Liège, Belgium (d. 1921)
• 1863 Charles Bordes, French composer, born in La Roche-Corbon, France (d. 1909)
• 1866 Lafayette "Lave" Cross [Vratislav Kriz], American MLB baseball infielder, 1892-1907 (Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia Athletics, and 5 other teams), born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (d. 1927)
• 1867 Hugh Trumble, Australian cricket spin bowler and captain (32 Tests, 141 wickets; 2 x Test hat-tricks), born in Melbourne, Australia (d. 1938)
• 1868 Halsey William Wilson, American publisher of reference books (Readers' Guide, Cumulative Book Index, Book Review Digest), born in Wilmington, Vermont (d. 1954)
• 1874 Clemens von Pirquet, Austrian physician (Pirquet’s skin test for tuberculosis, coined the word 'allergy'), born in Vienna, Austria (d. 1929)
• 1876 Harold of Schleswig-Holstein, grandson of English queen Victoria (d. 1876 dies 8 days later)
• 1880 Lincoln Ellsworth, American polar explorer, led 1st transarctic, transantarctic flights, born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1951)
• 1882 Kyrylo Stetsenko, Ukrainian composer (Burlaka), choral conductor, music critic, teacher, and later, Ukrainian Orthodox priest, born in Kvitkiv, Russian Empire (now Ukraine) (d. 1922)
• 1886 Albert Saverys, Flemish painter (d. 1964)
• 1886 Hermann Grabner, Austrian composer (Die Richterin), born in Graz, Austria (d. 1969)
• 1886 Peter Scharow, Russian-Italian actor and director (Chechov), born in Perm, Russia (d. 1969)
• 1887 Nandor Zsolt, Hungarian composer, born in Esztergom, Hungary (d. 1936)
• 1889 Otto Frank, German born father of Anne Frank who saw her diaries published, born in Frankfurt (d. 1980)
• 1892 Fritz Kortner, Austrian-born director (d. 1970)
• 1894 Cleo Ridgely, American silent screen actress (I Remember Mama), born in New York City (d. 1962)
• 1894 Donald Knight, English cricket batsman (2 Tests; Surrey CCC, Oxford University CC), born in Sutton, England (d. 1960)
• 1895 Jiddu Krishnamurti, Indian philosopher (Songs of Life), born in Madanapalle, India (d. 1986)
• 1899 Indra Devi, Latvian Yoga Instructor (d. 2002)
• 1900 Helene Weigel, Austrian-German actress (Metropolis, Mutter Courage), born in Vienna, Austria-Hungary (d. 1971)
• 1901 Hyam Greenbaum, British violinist, composer and conductor of the 1st TV orchestra (BBC), born in England (d. 1942)
• 1902 Heinrich Kirchner, German sculptor (d. 1984)
• 1903 Lennox R. F. Berkeley, British composer and pedagogue (Castaway), born in Boars Hill, England (d. 1989)
• 1903 Wilfrid Hyde-White, British actor (My Fair Lady, Peyton Place), born in Gloucestershire, England (d. 1991)
• 1906 Maurice Ewing, US pioneering geologist and geophysicist, born in Lockney, Texas (d. 1974)

• 1907 Leslie Charteris, Chinese English American detective writer (Simon Templar character in The Saint), born in Singapore (d. 1993)
• 1909 Frank DeCaires, West Indian cricket batsman (3 Tests, 2 x 50; British Guiana), born in British Guiana (d. 1959)
• 1910 Charles B. Fulton, American jurist (d. 1996)

• 1910 Gordon Jenkins, American arranger and orchestra leader (Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra), born in Webster Groves, Missouri (d. 1984)
• 1912 Archibald Cox, U.S. Solicitor General (d. 2004)
• 1912 Marshall Royal, American jazz alto saxophonist and clarinetist (Count Basie Orchestra), born in Sapulpa, Oklahoma (d. 1995)
• 1914 Bertus Aafjes, Dutch poet and writer, born in Amsterdam, Netherlands (d. 1993)
• 1914 Dan Daniel, American politician (Rep-D-VA, 1969-88), born in Chatham, Virginia (d. 1988)
• 1914 Howard K. Smith, American TV newsman and journalist (ABC, Moderated Kennedy-Nixon debate), born in Ferriday, Louisiana (d. 2002)
• 1915 Mary Kay Ash, American businesswoman, founded Mary Kay Cosmetics (d. 2001)
• 1916 Ellis Kohs, American composer (Lohiau and Hiiaka), educator, and musicologist, born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2000)
• 1917 Andries Antonie Rieu, Dutch conductor (Maastricht Symphony Orchestra, 1949-80), born in Haarlem, Netherlands (d. 1992)

• 1918 Oscar Beregi Jr, Hungarian actor (Young Frankenstein, Panic in City), born in Budapest, Austria-Hungary (d. 1976)
• 1921 (Otis W.) "Joe" Maphis, American session and country music guitarist ("Dim Lights"), born in Suffolk, Virginia (d. 1986)
• 1921 Edvard Mirzoyan, Armenian composer, born in Gori, Georgia (d. 2012)
• 1921 Farley Mowat, Canadian writer and naturalist, born in Belleville, Ontario, (d. 2014)
• 1921 Giovanni Benelli, Italian archbishop of Florence and Papal candidate, born in Vernio, Italy (d. 1982)
• 1921 Henry Mackie, designer of the Belfast Calorimeter (d. 1994)
• 1921 Joseph Beuys, German avant-garde painter (Fluxus, movement), born in Krefeld, Germany (d. 1986)
• 1922 Barend Busnac, Dutch office clerk and resistance fighter, born in Rotterdam, Netherlands (d. 1944)
• 1922 Marco Denevi, Argentine writer (d. 1998)
• 1923 Ewart Abner, American record company executive (President of Motown, manager of Stevie Wonder), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1997)
• 1923 Giovanni Testori, Italian writer (Rocco e i suoi fratelli), born in Milan, Italy (d. 1993)
• 1923 Hector Laing, English biscuit manufacturer (McVitie & Price), pilot and Director of the Bank of England (d. 2010)
• 1924 Alexander Esenin-Volpin, Russian mathematician (ultrafinitism) and human rights activist, born in Leningrad, Soviet Union (d. 2016)

• 1925 John Simon, American author, literary and theater critic (NY Times), born in Subotica, Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (d. 2019)

• 1926 Earl Hutto, American politician (Rep-D-Florida, 1979-95), born in Panama City, Florida (d. 2020)
• 1926 Mervyn Dymally, American politician (Rep-D-CA, 1981-93), born in Cedros, Trinidad and Tobago (d. 2012)
• 1926 Philip Springer, American composer (“Santa Baby”; "The Next Time"; "The Bells Of Notre Dame"), born in New York City [1]

• 1928 Henry Cosby, American songwriter, musician and producer for Motown ("Tears of a Clown"; "For Once In My Life"), born in Detroit, Michigan (d. 2002)
• 1928 Ivan Král, Czech-American bass player, songwriter, record producer (Patti Smith; Iggy Pop; John Waite), born in Prague, Czechoslovakia (d. 2020)
• 1928 Manuel Lujan Jr, American politician (Rep-R-NM, 1969-89), born in San Ildefonso Pueblo, New Mexico (d. 2019)
• 1929 Dollard St. Laurent, Canadian ice hockey player, born in Verdun, Quebec (d. 2015)
• 1929 Sam Nujoma, Namibian revolutionary and politician, first President of Namibia (1990-2005), born in Ongandjera, Soutwest Africa
• 1930 Pat McCormick, American diver (4 x Olympic gold women's springboard & platform 1952, 56), born in Seal Beach, California (d. 2023)
• 1931 Johan Fleerackers, Flemish civil servant and cultural attaché (Minister of Cutlure, 1965-77), born in Mortsel, Belgium (d. 1989)
• 1933 (Antoni) "Ton" Hartsuiker, Dutch pianist, composer, broadcaster, and educator, born in Zwolle, Netherlands (d. 2015)
• 1933 Andrey Voznesensky, Russian poet, born in Moscow, Soviet Union (d. 2010)
• 1934 Elechi Amadi, Nigerian novelist (The Concubine), born in Aluu (d. 2016)
• 1935 Felipe Alou, Dominican baseball utility (MLB All-Star 1962, 66, 68; SF Giants, Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves) and manager (Montreal Expos 1992–2001, SF Giants 2003–06), born in Haina, Dominican Republic
• 1935 Gary Peacock, American jazz bassist (Keith Jarrett Trio), born in Burley, Idaho (d. 2020)
• 1935 Johnny Bucyk, Canadian ice hockey player, born in Edmonton, Alberta
• 1936 David Snell, British jazz harpist and conductor, born in Grantham, Lincolnshire, England
• 1936 Frank Stella, American artist, born in Malden, Massachusetts [1]
• 1936 Guillermo Endara, President of Panama (1989-94), born in Panama City, Panama (d. 2009)
• 1936 Klaus Doldinger, German jazz saxophonist (Passport) and composer for film, born in Berlin, Germany

• 1937 Beryl Burton, British cyclist won record (7) women's cycling titles
• 1937 George Carlin, American comedian (7 dirty words, AM & FM, Carwash), born in The Bronx, New York (d. 2008)
• 1937 Gerry Studds, American politician (Rep-D-MA, 1973-97), first openly gay member of US Congress, born in Mineola, New York (d. 2006)
• 1938 Andrei Amalrik, Russian writer and dissident (Will the Soviet Union Survive Until 1984), born in Moscow, Soviet Union (d. 1980)
• 1938 Millie Perkins, American actress (Diary of Anne Frank, Table for 5, Shooting), born in Passaic, New Jersey
• 1938 Susan Hampshire, English actress (Vanity Fair, Living Free), born in London, England
• 1939 Charles Hull, American inventor (3D printing), born in Clifton, Colorado [1]
• 1939 Reg Gasnier, Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame centre and captain (36 Tests; 3 World Cups; St. George RLFC), born in Sydney, Australia (d. 2014)
• 1939 Ron Ziegler, American White House press secretary for Nixon, born in Covington, Kentucky (d. 2003)
• 1940 Norman Whitfield, American songwriter and producer for Motown ("I Heard It Through the Grapevine"; "Just My Imagination"; "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone"), born in New York City (d. 2008)
• 1941 Anthony Newman, American harpsichordist and organist (Bhajeb), born in Los Angeles, California
• 1941 Ruud de Wolff, Dutch Indonesian singer and guitarist (The Blue Diamonds), born in Batavia, Dutch East Indies (d. 2000)
• 1942 Barry Longyear, American sci-fi author (City of Baraboo), born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
• 1942 Billy Swan, American country-rock singer-songwriter ("I Can Help"), born in Cape Giradeau, Missouri
• 1942 Dumitru Dediu, Romanian cosmonaut (Soyuz 40 backup)
• 1942 Ian Dury, English rock musician (The Blockheads) and actor (Judge Dredd), born in Upminster, Essex, England (d. 2000)
• 1943 David Walker, American rock guitarist (Gary Lewis & Playboys - "This Diamond Ring"), born in Montgomery Alabama
• 1943 Linda Dano, American actress (Felicia Gallant-Another World), born in Los Angeles, California
• 1944 Eva Demski, German writer, born in Regensburg
• 1944 James Purify, American R&B singer ("I'm Your Puppet"), born in Pensacola, Florida (d. 2021)
• 1944 Orestes Vilató, Cuban-American percussionist and timbalero, born in Camagüey, Cuba
• 1944 Titti Sotto, Cuban singer and composer (La Esquina Habanera), born in Havana, Cuba (d. 1992)
• 1945 "Little" Jayotis Washington, American cappella singer (The Persuasions), born in Detroit, Michigan
• 1945 Ian McLagan, English rock keyboardist (Small Face; Faces), born in Hounslow, Middlesex, England (d. 2014)
• 1945 Keith Olsen, American rock record producer and sound engineer (Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac; Grateful Dead - Terrapin Station; Joe Walsh - The Confessor), born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota (d. 2020)
• 1945 Linda Carlson, American actress (Newhart - "Bev"; Kaz- "Katie"), born in Knoxville, Tennessee
• 1945 Patrick Ricard, French businessman and CEO of Pernod Ricard, born in Marseille, France (d. 2012)
• 1946 L. Neil Smith, American sci-fi author (Lando Calrissian novels), born in Denver, Colorado
• 1946 Leonard Baichan, West Indian cricketer (WI opener, 103 v Pakistan on debut 1975), born in Rose Hall, British Guiana
• 1947 Catherine "Cat" Yronwode, American writer and editor-in-chief (Eclipse Comics), born in San Francisco, California
• 1947 Michael Ignatieff, Canadian politician (Leader of the Liberal Party), born in Toronto, Ontario
• 1947 Micheline Lanctôt, American film actor, director and screenwriter, born in Frelighsburg, Quebec
• 1948 Lindsay Ann Crouse, American actress (Slapshot, Iceman, Places in Heart), born in New York City
• 1948 Steve Winwood, English singer, songwriter and musician (Spencer Davis Group - "Gimme Some Lovin'"; Traffic - "Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys"; solo - 'Higher Love"; "While You See A Chance"), born in Birmingham, England
• 1950 (John) "Jocko" Marcellino, American rock singer (Sha Na Na, 1969-present), born in Quincy, Massachusetts
• 1950 Billy Squier, American rock singer-songwriter, and guitarist ("The Stroke"; "My Kind Of Lover"), born in Wellesley, Massachusetts
• 1950 Bruce Boxleitner, American actor (Tron; Scarecrow and Mrs King; Babylon 5), and novelist, born in Elgin, Illinois
• 1950 Gabriel Byrne, Irish actor (Hello Again; Cool World), born in Dublin, Ireland
• 1950 Renate Stecher-Meissner, German sprinter (3-time Olympic gold 1972, 76), born in Süptitz, Germany
• 1950 Ronnie Foster, American soul, funk, and acid jazz Hammond B-3 organist, keyboard player, and record producer, born in Buffalo, New York
• 1950 Shōzō Fujii, Japanese judoka (World Champion 1971, 1973, 1975 and 1979), born in Higashikagawa, Kagawa. Japan
• 1951 Gunnar Larsson, Swedish swimmer (Olympic gold 200/400m medley,1972; World C'ship gold 200m medley, 1973), born in Malmö, Sweden
• 1953 Phil Beer, English multi-instrumentalist and composer (Show of Hands), born in Exminster, Devon, England
• 1955 Bashiri Johnson, American session and touring percussionist (Whitney Houston; Michael Jackson), and educator, born in Brooklyn, New York City
• 1955 Kix Brooks, American country music singer (Brooks & Dunn - "Brand New Man"), born in Shreveport, Louisiana
• 1956 Bernie Federko, Canadian ice hockey HOF forward (St. Louis Blues, Detroit Red Wings), born in Foam Lake, Saskatchewan
• 1956 Glenn Robbins, Australian comedian (Kath & Kim), born in Melbourne, Australia
• 1956 Greg Phillinganes, American session and touring keyboardist, and musical director (Stevie Wonder, Toto, Michael Jackson, David Gilmour), born in Detroit, Michigan

• 1957 Lou Whitaker, American MLB 2nd baseman (Detroit Tigers, 1978 AL Rookie of the Year), born in Brooklyn, New York
• 1958 Andreas Petroulakis, Greek political caricaturist
• 1958 Beth Maitland, American actress (Traci-Young & Restless), born in Rapid City, South Dakota
• 1958 Christian Brando, son of Marlon who killed his sisters boyfriend, born in Los Angeles, California (d. 2008)
• 1958 Eric Singer [Mensinger], American hard rock drummer (KISS, 1991-present), born in Cleveland, Ohio
• 1958 Kim Greist, American actress (CHUD, Brazil, Payoff, Manhunter), born in Stamford, Connecticut
• 1959 Dave Christian, American NHL right wing, 1980-94 (Olympic gold, 1980; Washington Capitals, Winnipeg Jets, and 3 other teams), born in Warroad, Minnesota
• 1959 Ving Rhames [Irving Rameses Rhames], American actor (Mission Impossible), born in New York City
• 1960 Lisa Martin, Australian marathoner (Olympic-silver 1988), born in Gawler, South Australia
• 1961 Billy Duffy, British rock musician (The Cult), born in Manchester, England
• 1961 Bruce McCulloch, Canadian actor (The Kids in the Hall), born in Edmonton, Alberta
• 1961 Lar Park Lincoln, American actress, born in Dallas, Texas
• 1961 Thomas Dooley, American soccer midfielder (81 caps; FC Homburg, 1. FC Kaiserslautern), born in Bechhofen, Germany
• 1962 Brett Gurewitz, American guitarist and songwriter (Bad Religion), record label owner, and producer (Epitaph), born in Los Angeles, California
• 1962 Emilio Estevez, American actor (Breakfast Club, Young Guns, Mighty Ducks), born in New York City
• 1963 Charles Pettigrew, American soul singer (Charles & Eddie - "Would I Lie To You?"), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 2001)
• 1963 Stefano Modena, Italian racing driver, born in Modena, Italy
• 1963 Vanessa Williams, American actress (Soul Food, Murder One, Melrose Place - "Rhonda Blair";), born in Brooklyn, New York [not Miss America]
• 1964 José Casanova, Peruvian soccer midfielder (10 caps; Alianza Lima), born in Lima, Peru (d. 1987)
• 1964 Joy Ellen Kitzmiller, US badminton player (Olympic-92), born in Los Angeles, California
• 1964 Julius Maada Bio, Sierra Leonean politician (President of Sierra Leone 2018-), born in Tihun, Sierra Leone
• 1965 Nína Margrét Grímsdóttir, Icelandic concert pianist and pedagogue, born in Iceland
• 1965 Stacy Wilson, Canadian ice hockey forward and captain of Team Canada (Silver medal, Olympics 1998), born in Moncton, New Brunswick
• 1966 Bebel Gilberto, Brazilian-American pop and bossa nova singer, born in New York City
• 1966 Rafael Bournigal, Dominican infielder (Oakland A's), born in Azua, Dominican Republic
• 1966 Stephen Baldwin, American actor (The Usual Suspects), born in Massapequa, New York
• 1967 Cara Coughenour, American pitcher (Colorado Silver Bullets), born in Sioux City, Iowa
• 1967 Robert Blackmon, American defensive back (Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks), born in Bay City, Texas
• 1967 Warren Rychel, Canadian NHL left wing (Colorado Avalanche), born in Strathroy, Ontario
• 1968 Scott Schwartz, American actor, born in Sacramento, California

• 1969 Kevin Nalty, American viral video maker and YouTuber, born in New Orleans, Louisiana
• 1969 Kim Fields Freeman, American actress (The Facts of Life - "Tootie"), born in Los Angeles, California

• 1970 Mark Foster, English swimmer (4 x World C'ship [SC] gold 50m freestyle; 2 x gold 50m butterfly), born in Billericay, England
• 1970 Mike Weir, Canadian golfer (US Masters 2003), born in Sarnia, Ontario
• 1970 Samantha Mathis, American actress (American Psycho, Billions), born in Brooklyn, New York
• 1970 Stevie Anderson, NFL wide receiver (Arizona Cardinals)
• 1971 Doug Basham, American professional wrestler, born in Louisville, Kentucky
• 1971 Jamie Luner, American actress (Cindy-Just the 10 of Us), born in Palo Alto, California
• 1972 Jason Kyle, NFL linebacker (Seattle Seahawks), born in Tempe, Arizona
• 1972 Paul Stout, American actor (Phillip-Scarecrow & Mrs King), born in Saugus, California

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