Famous Birthdays on May 19

Q: Who was born on May 19?

Famous people born on May 19 include: John Stourton, Baccio D'Agnolo, Claude Vignon, Johann Jakob Froberger, Charles Weston.

Q: What is Claudia Karvan known for?

Claudia Karvan, Australian actress, producer, and screenwriter

203 people 1400 – 2003

May 19 has seen 203 notable people enter the world across recorded history — from 1400 – 2003. Below are the most significant names born on this date.

By thisDay.info Editorial Team · May 19 — Wikipedia

1972 — Claudia Karvan

Australian actress, producer, and screenwriter

Did you know

As a child actor, she first appeared in the film Molly (1983) and followed with an adolescent role in High Tide (1987)

Did you know

She won two similar AFI Awards for her role in Love My Way and in 2014 for her work in The Time of Our Lives (2013–2014)

Did you know

As a co-producer and co-writer on Love My Way, she won three further AFI Awards for Best Drama Series in 2005, 2006 and 2007

Did you know

She portrayed a teacher who falls in love with her student in The Heartbreak Kid (1993)

Did you know

Karvan's roles in television series include The Secret Life of Us (2001–2005), Love My Way (2004–2007), Newton's Law (2017) and Halifax: Retribution (2020)

John Stourton

1st Baron Stourton, English soldier and politician (died 1462)

John Stourton, 1st Baron Stourton of Stourton, Wiltshire, was an English soldier and politician, elevated to the peerage in 1448.

1400

Baccio D'Agnolo

Italian woodcarver, sculptor and architect (died 1543)

Baccio d'Agnolo, born Bartolomeo Baglioni, was an Italian woodcarver, sculptor, and architect from Florence.

1462

Claude Vignon

French painter (died 1670)

Claude Vignon was a French painter, printmaker and illustrator who worked in a wide range of genres. During a period of study in Italy, he became exposed to many new artistic currents, in particular through the works of…

1593

Johann Jakob Froberger

German organist and composer (died 1667)

Johann Jakob Froberger was a German Baroque composer, keyboard virtuoso, and organist. Among the most famous composers of the era, he was influential in developing the musical form of the suite of dances in his keyboard…

1616

Charles Weston

3rd Earl of Portland, English soldier and noble (died 1665)

Charles Weston, 3rd Earl of Portland, was the only son and heir of the 2nd Earl of Portland and Lady Frances Stuart.

1639

José de Escandón

1st Count of Sierra Gorda, Spanish sergeant and politician (died 1770)

José de Escandón y Helguera, conde de Sierra was a Spanish fighter against indigenous people in New Spain and the founder and first governor of the colony of Nuevo Santander, which extended from the Pánuco River in the…

1700

Augustus Hervey

3rd Earl of Bristol, English admiral and politician, Chief Secretary for Ireland (died 1779)

Vice-Admiral Augustus John Hervey, 3rd Earl of Bristol, PC was a Royal Navy officer and politician. He commanded the sixth-rate HMS Phoenix at the Battle of Minorca in May 1756 as well as the third-rate HMS Dragon at…

1724

Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

German-born Queen to George III of the United Kingdom (died 1818)

Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was Queen of Great Britain and Ireland as the wife of King George III from their marriage on 8 September 1761 until her death in 1818. The Acts of Union 1800 unified Great Britain and…

1744

Johann Gottlieb Fichte

German philosopher and academic (died 1814)

Johann Gottlieb Fichte was a German philosopher who became a founding figure of German idealism, which developed from the theoretical and ethical writings of Immanuel Kant.

1762

Arthur Aikin

English chemist and mineralogist (died 1854)

Arthur Aikin was an English chemist, mineralogist and scientific writer, and was a founding member of the Chemical Society. He first became its treasurer in 1841, and later became the society's second president.

1773

Johns Hopkins

American businessman and philanthropist (died 1873)

Johns Hopkins was an American merchant, investor, and philanthropist best known for funding the establishment of Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Hospital, which have since become leading institutions for…

1795

Paul-Armand Challemel-Lacour

French academic and politician, French Minister of Foreign Affairs (died 1896)

Paul-Armand Challemel-Lacour was a French statesman.

1827

James Watney

Jr., English politician, brewer and cricketer (died 1886)

James Watney Jr. was a prominent member of the Watney family and a Conservative Member of Parliament for East Surrey.

1832

John Jacob Abel

American biochemist and pharmacologist (died 1938)

John Jacob Abel was an American biochemist and pharmacologist. He established the pharmacology department at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 1893, and then became America's first full-time professor of…

1857

Nellie Melba

Australian soprano and actress (died 1931)

Dame Nellie Melba was an Australian operatic lyric coloratura soprano. She became one of the most famous singers of the late Victorian era and the early twentieth century, and was the first Australian to achieve…

1861

Walter Russell

American painter, sculptor, and author (died 1963)

Walter Bowman Russell was an American impressionist painter, sculptor, and author. Russell wrote extensively on science topics, but his ideas were rejected by scientists.

1871

Gilbert Jessop

English cricketer and soldier (died 1955)

Gilbert Laird Jessop was an English cricket player, often reckoned to have been one of the fastest run-scorers cricket has ever known. He was Wisden Cricketer of the Year for 1898 and compiled the fastest century ever…

1874

Alfred Laliberté

Canadian sculptor and painter (died 1953)

Alfred Laliberté was a French-Canadian sculptor and painter based in Montreal. His output includes more than 900 sculptures in bronze, marble, wood, and plaster. Many of his sculptures depict national figures and events…

1878

Nancy Astor

Viscountess Astor, American-English politician (died 1964)

Nancy Witcher Astor, Viscountess Astor was an American-born British politician who was the first woman seated as a Member of Parliament (MP), serving from 1919 to 1945. Astor was born in Danville, Virginia, and raised…

1879

Albert Richardson

English architect and educator, designed the Manchester Opera House (died 1964)

Sir Albert Edward Richardson was a leading English architect, teacher and writer about architecture during the first half of the 20th century. He was Professor of Architecture at University College London, a President…

1880

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (official birthday)

Turkish field marshal and statesman, 1st President of Turkey (died 1938)

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was a Turkish field marshal and statesperson who was the founder of the Republic of Turkey and served as its first president from 1923 until his death in 1938. He led sweeping reforms, turning…

1881

David Munson

American runner (died 1953)

David Curtiss Munson was an American athlete who competed in the 1904 Summer Olympics.

1884

Francis Biddle

American lawyer and judge, 58th United States Attorney General (died 1968)

Francis Beverley Biddle was an American lawyer and judge who was the United States Attorney General during World War II. He also served as the primary American judge during Nuremberg trials following World War II and a…

1886

Ion Jalea

Romanian soldier and sculptor (died 1983)

Ion Jalea was a Romanian sculptor, monumentalist, teacher, and member of the Romanian Academy.

1887

Tản Đà

Vietnamese poet and author (died 1939)

Nguyễn Khắc Hiếu (阮克孝), pen name Tản Đà was a Vietnamese poet. His pen name is a combination of Tản from Tản Viên Mountain and Đà from Đà River

1889

Henry B. Richardson

American archer (died 1963)

Henry Barber Richardson was an American archer. He won two Olympic bronze medals. Richardson was the first archer to win medals at two different editions of the Olympic Games as well as the youngest medallist at the…

1889

Eveline Adelheid von Maydell

German-American illustrator (died 1962)

Eveline Adelheid von Maydell was an ethnic German silhouette artist. Born in Iran, she studied drawing in Pärnu, Estonia, in Riga, Latvia and in St. Petersburg, Russia. She moved to the United States in 1922.

1890

Ho Chi Minh

Vietnamese politician, 1st President of Vietnam (died 1969)

Hồ Chí Minh, colloquially known as Uncle Ho among other aliases and sobriquets, was a Vietnamese revolutionary and statesman who founded the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1945. He served as its first president from…

1890

Oswald Boelcke

German captain and pilot (died 1916)

Hauptmann Oswald Boelcke was a German professional soldier and pioneering flying ace credited with 40 aerial victories during World War I. Boelcke is honored as the father of the German fighter air force, and of air…

1891

H. Bonciu

Romanian author, poet, and journalist (died 1950)

H. Bonciu, or Horia Bonciu, was a Romanian novelist, poet, journalist and translator, noted especially as an atypical figure on his country's avant-garde scene. His work, comprising several volumes of poetry and two…

1893

Frank Luke

American lieutenant and pilot, Medal of Honor recipient (died 1918)

Frank Luke Jr. was an American fighter ace credited with 19 aerial victories, ranking him second among United States Army Air Service (USAAS) pilots during World War I, after Eddie Rickenbacker. Luke was the first…

1897

Julius Evola

Italian philosopher and painter (died 1974)

Giulio Cesare Andrea "Julius" Evola was an Italian far-right philosopher and writer. Evola regarded his values as traditionalist, aristocratic, martial and imperialist. An esoteric thinker in Fascist Italy, he also had…

1898

Lothar Rădăceanu

Romanian journalist, linguist, and politician (died 1955)

Lothar or Lotar Rădăceanu was a Romanian journalist and linguist, best known as a socialist and communist politician.

1899

Lubka Kolessa

Ukrainian-Canadian pianist and educator (died 1997)

Lubka Oleksandrivna Kolessa was a classical pianist and professor of piano.

1902

Ruth Ella Moore

American scientist (died 1994)

Ruth Ella Moore was an American bacteriologist and microbiologist, who, in 1933, became the first African-American woman to be awarded a Ph.D. in a natural science. She was a professor of bacteriology at Howard…

1903

Sven Thofelt

Swedish modern pentathlete and épée fencer (died 1993)

Sven Alfred Thofelt was a Swedish modern pentathlete and épée fencer who competed at the 1928, 1932, 1936 and 1948 Summer Olympics.

1904

Bruce Bennett

American shot putter and actor (died 2007)

Bruce Bennett was an American film and television actor who was a college athlete in football and in intercollegiate and international track-and-field competitions. In 1928, he won the silver medal for the shot put at…

1906

Manik Bandopadhyay

Indian author, poet, and playwright (died 1956)

Manik Bandyopadhyay [alias Banerjee] is an Indian author regarded as one of the major figures of 20th century Bengali literature. During a lifespan of 48 years and 28 years of literary career, battling with epilepsy…

1908

Merriam Modell

American author (died 1994)

Merriam Modell was an American writer of short stories, suspense and pulp fiction, who wrote primarily under the pen name Evelyn Piper. Many had a common theme: the domestic conflicts faced by American families.

1908

Percy Williams

Canadian sprinter (died 1982)

Percy Alfred Williams was a Canadian athlete, winner of the 100 and 200 metres races at the 1928 Summer Olympics and a former world record holder for the 100 metres sprint.

1908

Nicholas Winton

English banker and humanitarian (died 2015)

Sir Nicholas George Winton was a British stockbroker and humanitarian who helped to rescue refugee children, mostly Jewish, whose families had fled persecution by Nazi Germany. Born to German-Jewish parents who had…

1909

Alan Melville

South African cricketer (died 1983)

Alan Melville was a South African cricketer who played in 11 Test matches from 1938 to 1949. He was born in Carnarvon, Northern Cape, South Africa and died at Sabie, Transvaal.

1910

Neelam Sanjiva Reddy

Indian lawyer and politician, 6th President of India (died 1996)

Neelam Sanjiva Reddy was an Indian politician who served as the president of India from 1977 to 1982. Beginning a long political career with the Indian National Congress in the independence movement, he went on to hold…

1913

Max Perutz

Austrian-English biologist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (died 2002)

Max Ferdinand Perutz was an Austrian-born British molecular biologist, who shared the 1962 Nobel Prize for Chemistry with John Kendrew, for their studies of the structures of haemoglobin and myoglobin. He went on to win…

1914

Alex Shibicky

Canadian ice hockey player (died 2005)

Alexandre Dimitri Shibicky was a Canadian ice hockey forward who played for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League from 1935 to 1946.

1914

John Vachon

American photographer and journalist (died 1975)

John Felix Vachon was an American photographer. Vachon is remembered most for his photography working for the Farm Security Administration (FSA) as part of the New Deal and for contributions to Look magazine.

1914

Renée Asherson

English actress (died 2014)

Dorothy Renée Ascherson, known professionally as Renée Asherson, was a British actress. Much of her theatrical career was spent in Shakespearean plays, appearing at such venues as the Old Vic, the Liverpool Playhouse,…

1915

Abraham Pais

Dutch-American physicist, historian, and academic (died 2000)

Abraham Pais was a Dutch-American physicist and science historian. Pais earned his Ph.D. from University of Utrecht just prior to a Nazi ban on Jewish participation in Dutch universities during World War II. When the…

1918

Georgie Auld

Canadian-American saxophonist, clarinet player, and bandleader (died 1990)

Georgie Auld was a Canadian jazz tenor saxophonist, clarinetist, and bandleader.

1919

Mitja Ribičič

Italian-Slovenian soldier and politician, 25th Prime Minister of Yugoslavia (died 2013)

Mitja Ribičič was a Slovenian and Yugoslav communist politician. He was the Prime Minister of Yugoslavia—the only Slovenian to hold the office—from 1969 to 1971.

1919

Tina Strobos

Dutch psychiatrist known for rescuing Jews during World War II (died 2012)

Tina Strobos was a Dutch physician and psychiatrist from Amsterdam, known for her resistance work during World War II. While a young medical student, she worked with her mother and grandmother to rescue more than 100…

1920

Leslie Broderick

English lieutenant and pilot (died 2013)

Leslie Charles James Broderick was a British World War II Royal Air Force Avro Lancaster bomber pilot and teacher who was a prisoner of war in Stalag Luft III and one of the last three survivors of the "Great Escape".

1921

Harry W. Brown

American colonel and pilot (died 1991)

Harry Winston Brown was an Army Air Corps second lieutenant assigned to the 47th Pursuit Squadron at Wheeler Field on the island of Oahu during the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941. He was one of the five American…

1921

Daniel Gélin

French actor, director, and screenwriter (died 2002)

Daniel Yves Alfred Gélin was a French film and television actor.

1921

Yuri Kochiyama

American activist (died 2014)

Yuri Kochiyama was an American civil rights activist born in San Pedro, California. She was interned at the Jerome War Relocation Center in Arkansas during World War II, an experience that influenced her views on…

1921

Karel van het Reve

Dutch historian and author (died 1999)

Karel van het Reve was a Dutch writer, translator and literary historian, teaching and writing on Russian literature.

1921

Arthur Gorrie

Australian hobby shop proprietor (died 1992)

Arthur Dingwall Gorrie was an Australian hobbyist. He ran a small hobby shop in Woolloongabba and was involved with model aeronautical clubs including the Model Aeronautical Association of Australia and the Queensland…

1922

Sandy Wilson

English composer and songwriter (died 2014)

Alexander Galbraith "Sandy" Wilson was an English composer and lyricist, best known for his musical The Boy Friend (1953).

1924

Pol Pot

Cambodian general and politician, 29th Prime Minister of Cambodia (died 1998)

Pol Pot was a Cambodian politician, revolutionary, and dictator who ruled Democratic Kampuchea from 1975 until his overthrow in 1979. During his reign, his administration oversaw the Cambodian genocide, and he is widely…

1925

Malcolm X

American minister and activist (died 1965)

Malcolm X was an African American revolutionary and Black nationalist leader who rose from a background of poverty, family disruption, and criminal activity to a prominent figure during the civil rights movement until…

1925

Edward Parkes

English engineer and academic (died 2019)

Sir Edward Walter Parkes DL FREng was Vice-Chancellor of City University London from 1974 to 1978 and of the University of Leeds from 1983 to 1991.

1926

Peter Zadek

German director and screenwriter (died 2009)

Peter Zadek was a German director of theatre, opera and film, a translator and a screenwriter. He is regarded as one of the greatest directors in German-speaking theater.

1926

Serge Lang

French-American mathematician, author and academic (died 2005)

Serge Lang was a French-American mathematician and activist who taught at Yale University for most of his career. He is known for his work in number theory and for his mathematics textbooks, including the influential…

1927

Colin Chapman

English engineer and businessman, founded Lotus Cars (died 1982)

Anthony Colin Bruce Chapman was an English design engineer, inventor, and builder in the automotive industry, and founder of the sports car company Lotus Cars.

1928

Thomas Kennedy

English air marshal (died 2013)

Air Chief Marshal Sir Thomas Lawrie "Jock" Kennedy, was a senior Royal Air Force officer. He served as Deputy Commander of RAF Strike Command from 1979 to 1981, and Air Member for Personnel from 1983 to 1986. Following…

1928

Gil McDougald

American baseball player and coach (died 2010)

Gilbert James McDougald was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) infielder who played for the New York Yankees from 1951 through 1960.

1928

Dolph Schayes

American basketball player and coach (died 2015)

Adolph Schayes was an American professional basketball player and coach in the National Basketball Association (NBA). A top scorer and rebounder, he was a 12-time NBA All-Star and a 12-time All-NBA selection. Schayes…

1928

Helmut Braunlich

German-American violinist and composer (died 2013)

Helmut Braunlich was a German-American violinist, composer, and musicologist.

1929

Richard Larter

Australian painter (died 2014)

Richard Larter was an Australian painter, often identified as one of Australia's few highly recognisable pop artists. Larter also frequently painted in a Pointillist style. He took advantage of unusual techniques with…

1929

John Stroger

American politician (died 2008)

John H. Stroger Jr. was an American politician who served from 1994 until 2006 as the first African-American president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners. A member of the Democratic Party. Stroger also served as…

1929

Eugene Genovese

American historian and author (died 2012)

Eugene Dominic Genovese was an American historian of the American South and American slavery. He was noted for bringing a Marxist perspective to the study of power, class and relations between planters and slaves in the…

1930

Lorraine Hansberry

American playwright and director (died 1965)

Lorraine Vivian Hansberry was an American playwright and writer. She was the first Black American female author to have a play performed on Broadway. Hansberry's best-known work, the play A Raisin in the Sun, highlights…

1930

Bob Anderson

English race car driver (died 1967)

Robert Hugh Fearon Anderson was a British Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and racing driver. He competed in Grand Prix motorcycle racing from 1958 to 1960 and in Formula One from 1963 to the 1967 seasons. He was also a…

1931

Trevor Peacock

English actor, screenwriter and songwriter (died 2021)

Trevor Edward Peacock was an English actor and songwriter. He made his name as a theatre actor, including for his roles in Shakespeare. He later became known for playing Jim Trott in the BBC comedy series The Vicar of…

1931

Alma Cogan

English singer (died 1966)

Alma Angela Cohen Cogan was an English singer of traditional pop in the 1950s and early 1960s. Dubbed the "Girl with the Giggle in Her Voice", she was the highest paid British female entertainer of her era.

1932

Paul Erdman

American economist and author (died 2007)

Paul Emil Erdman was a Canadian-born American economist and banker who became known for writing novels based on monetary trends and international finance.

1932

Bill Fitch

American basketball player and coach (died 2022)

William Charles Fitch was an American professional basketball coach in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He developed multiple teams into playoff contenders and won an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics…

1932

Elena Poniatowska

Mexican intellectual and journalist

Hélène Elizabeth Louise Amélie Paula Dolores Poniatowska Amor, known professionally as Elena Poniatowska, is a French-born Mexican journalist and author, specializing in works on social and political issues focused on…

1932

Edward de Bono

Maltese physician, author, and academic (died 2021)

Edward Charles Francis Publius de Bono was a Maltese physician and commentator. He originated the term lateral thinking, and wrote many books on thinking, including Six Thinking Hats.

1933

Ruskin Bond

Indian author and poet

Ruskin Bond is an Indian author and poet. His first novel, The Room on the Roof, published in 1956, received the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize. Bond has authored more than 500 short stories, essays, and novels which include…

1934

Jim Lehrer

American journalist and author (died 2020)

James Charles Lehrer was an American journalist, novelist, screenwriter, and playwright. He was the executive editor and a news anchor for the PBS News Hour on PBS and was known for his role as a debate moderator during…

1934

David Hartman

American journalist and television personality

David Downs Hartman is an American journalist and media host who began his media career as an actor. He currently anchors and hosts documentary programs on History and PBS. Hartman is best known as the first host of…

1935

Pat Roach

English wrestler (died 2004)

Francis Patrick Roach was an English professional wrestler, martial artist and actor. During an acting career between the 1970s and the 1990s, he appeared in multiple films, usually as a henchman. He appeared in the…

1937

Moisés da Costa Amaral

East Timorese politician (died 1989)

Moisés da Costa Amaral was an East Timorese politician in the Timorese Democratic Union. Born in 1938 in Fahinihan, East Timor.

1938

Herbie Flowers

English musician (died 2024)

Brian Keith "Herbie" Flowers was an English musician specialising in bass guitar, double bass and tuba. He was a member of groups including Blue Mink, T. Rex and Sky and was also a prolific session musician.

1938

Igor Ter-Ovanesyan

Ukrainian long jumper and coach

Igor Aramovich Ter-Ovanesyan is a Soviet and Russian former long jumper and coach, of Armenian descent. Competing for the Soviet Union, he was a five-time European and two-time Olympic medalist in this event. In 1985,…

1938

Livio Berruti

Italian sprinter

Livio Berruti is an Italian former athlete who was the winner of the 200-meter dash in the 1960 Summer Olympics.

1939

James Fox

English actor

James William Fox is an English actor, known for his work in film and television. He is a member of the Fox family of actors. Fox's career began in the 1960s through leading roles in films such as The Servant (1963),…

1939

Nancy Kwan

Hong Kong-American actress and makeup artist

Nancy Kwan Ka-shen is a Chinese-American actress whose career benefited from Hollywood's casting of more Asian roles in the 1960s, especially in comedies. She was considered an Eastern sex symbol in the 1960s.

1939

Jānis Lūsis

Latvian javelin thrower and coach (died 2020)

Jānis Lūsis was a Latvian track and field athlete who competed in javelin throw.

1939

Dick Scobee

American pilot, and astronaut (died 1986)

Francis Richard Scobee was an American pilot, engineer, and astronaut. He was killed while commanding the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1986, which suffered catastrophic booster failure during launch of the STS-51-L…

1939

Jan Janssen

Dutch cyclist

Johannes Adrianus "Jan" Janssen is a Dutch former professional cyclist. He was world champion and winner of the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España, the first Dutch rider to win either. He rode the Tour de France…

1940

Mickey Newbury

American country/pop singer-songwriter (died 2002)

Milton Sims "Mickey" Newbury Jr. was an American singer-songwriter. He is a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

1940

Nora Ephron

American director, producer, and screenwriter (died 2012)

Nora Ephron was an American writer, playwright, journalist, and filmmaker. Known for writing and directing romantic comedy films, she received numerous accolades including a BAFTA Award as well as nominations for three…

1941

Igor Judge

Baron Judge, Maltese-English lawyer and judge, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales (died 2023)

Igor Judge, Baron Judge, was an English judge who served as Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, the head of the judiciary, from 2008 to 2013. He was previously President of the Queen's Bench Division, at the time a…

1941

Gary Kildall

American computer scientist, founded Digital Research Inc. (died 1994)

Gary Arlen Kildall was an American computer scientist and microcomputer entrepreneur. During the 1970s, Kildall created the operating system CP/M among other operating systems and programming tools, and subsequently…

1942

Robert Kilroy-Silk

English television host and politician

Robert Michael Kilroy-Silk is an English former politician and broadcaster. After a decade as a university lecturer, he served as a Labour Party Member of Parliament (MP) from 1974 to 1986. He left the House of Commons…

1942

Eddie May

English footballer and manager (died 2012)

Edwin Charles May was an English football player and manager. May was born in Epping, and played for Dagenham, Southend United, Wrexham and Swansea City.

1943

Shirrel Rhoades

American author, publisher, and academic

Shirrel Rhoades is an American writer, publisher, professor, filmmaker, and the former executive vice president of Marvel Entertainment.

1943

Peter Mayhew

English-American actor (died 2019)

Peter William Mayhew was a British-American actor. He was best known for portraying Chewbacca in the Star Wars film series. He played the character in all of his live-action appearances from the 1977 original to 2015's…

1944

Pete Townshend

English singer-songwriter and guitarist

Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend is an English musician. He is the co-founder, guitarist, keyboardist, second lead vocalist, principal songwriter and de facto leader of the Who, one of the most influential rock bands of…

1945

Claude Lelièvre

Belgian activist

Claude Lelièvre is a Belgian government official. He is the Commissioner for Children Rights of the French community of Belgium, an office similar to the children's ombudsman agencies elsewhere.

1946

Michele Placido

Italian actor and director

Michele Placido is an Italian actor, director and screenwriter. He began his career on stage, and first gained mainstream attention through a series of roles in films directed by the likes of Mario Monicelli and Marco…

1946

André the Giant

French-American wrestler and actor (died 1993)

André René Roussimoff, better known by his ring name André the Giant, was a French professional wrestler and actor. Dubbed "the Eighth Wonder of the World", Roussimoff was known for his great size, which was a result of…

1946

Paul Brady

Irish singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer

Paul Joseph Brady is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician from Strabane, Northern Ireland. His work straddles folk and pop. He was interested in a wide variety of music from an early age.

1947

Christopher Chope

English lawyer and politician

Sir Christopher Robert Chope is a British politician and former barrister who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Christchurch in Dorset since 1997. A member of the Conservative Party, he was first elected…

1947

David Helfgott

Australian pianist

David Helfgott is an Australian concert pianist whose life inspired the Academy Award-winning film Shine, in which he was portrayed by actors Geoffrey Rush, Noah Taylor and Alex Rafalowicz.

1947

Grace Jones

Jamaican-American singer-songwriter, producer, and actress

Grace Beverly Jones is a Jamaican singer, songwriter, model and actress. She began her modelling career in New York, signing with Wilhelmina Models. After moving to Paris, she worked for fashion houses such as Yves St.…

1948

Dusty Hill

American singer-songwriter and bass player (died 2021)

Joe Michael "Dusty" Hill was an American musician who was the bassist of the rock band ZZ Top for more than 50 years. He also sang backing and lead vocals and played keyboards.

1949

Philip Hunt

Baron Hunt of Kings Heath, English politician

Philip Alexander Hunt, Baron Hunt of Kings Heath, is a former health administrator and a Labour Co-operative member of the House of Lords who served as Minister of State in the Department for Energy Security and Net…

1949

Archie Manning

American football player

Elisha Archibald Manning III is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons, primarily with the New Orleans Saints. The patriarch of the Manning…

1949

Tadeusz Ślusarski

Polish pole vaulter (died 1998)

Tadeusz Ślusarski was a Polish Olympic gold medalist in pole vault at the 1976 Olympics, as well as a silver medalist at the 1980 Olympics.

1950

Joey Ramone

American singer-songwriter (died 2001)

Jeffrey Ross Hyman, known professionally as Joey Ramone, was an American singer, songwriter, and the lead vocalist and founding member of the punk rock band Ramones, with Johnny Ramone and Dee Dee Ramone. His image,…

1951

Dick Slater

American wrestler (died 2018)

Richard Van Slater better known by his ring name "Dirty" Dick Slater, was an American professional wrestler who wrestled in the 1970s, 1980s, and mid-1990s for various promotions including Mid-Atlantic Championship…

1951

Charlie Spedding

English runner

Charles Spedding is an English former long-distance runner who competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics and the 1988 Summer Olympics.

1952

Bert van Marwijk

Dutch footballer, coach, and manager

Lambertus van Marwijk is a Dutch football manager who is a member of the supervisory board for MVV Maastricht. As a player, he played for the Go Ahead Eagles, AZ, MVV and Fortuna Sittard amongst other clubs and also…

1952

Patrick Hodge

Lord Hodge, Scottish lawyer and judge

Patrick Stewart Hodge, Lord Hodge, PC is a Scottish retired judge, who served as Deputy President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.

1953

Shavarsh Karapetyan

Armenian finswimmer

Shavarsh Vladimiri (Vladimirovich) Karapetyan is a Soviet-Armenian former finswimmer. He was best known for saving the lives of 20 people in a 1976 incident in Yerevan.

1953

Florin Marin

Romanian footballer and manager

Florin Marin was a Romanian professional football manager and player. Marin had a total of 456 matches as a manager in the Romanian top-division, Divizia A consisting of 166 victories, 103 draws and 187 losses. Marin…

1953

Victoria Wood

English actress, singer, director, and screenwriter (died 2016)

Victoria Wood was an English comedian, actress, musician, screenwriter, and director. Wood wrote and starred in dozens of sketches, plays, musicals, films and sitcoms over several decades, and her live comedy act was…

1953

Rick Cerone

American baseball player and sportscaster

Richard Aldo Cerone is an American former professional baseball player, television sports color commentator and minor league baseball team owner. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher from 1975 to 1992 with…

1954

Lena Einhorn

Swedish director, writer and physician

Lena Einhorn is a Swedish director and writer and former physician.

1954

Hōchū Ōtsuka

Japanese voice actor

Hōchū Ōtsuka is a Japanese voice actor and narrator affiliated with the talent management firm Crazy Box.

1954

Phil Rudd

Australian-New Zealand drummer

Phillip Hugh Norman Rudd is an Australian musician, best known as the drummer of AC/DC across three stints. On the 1977 departure of bass guitarist Mark Evans from AC/DC, Rudd became the only Australian-born member of…

1954

James Gosling

Canadian-American computer scientist, created Java

James Arthur Gosling is a Canadian computer scientist, best known as the founder and lead designer behind the Java programming language.

1955

Oliver Letwin

English philosopher and politician, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

Sir Oliver Letwin is a British politician, Member of Parliament (MP) for West Dorset from 1997 to 2019. Letwin was elected as a member of the Conservative Party, but sat as an independent after having the whip removed…

1956

Martyn Ware

English keyboard player, songwriter, and producer

Martyn Ware is an English musician, composer, arranger, record producer, and music programmer. As a founding member of both the Human League and Heaven 17, Ware co-wrote hit songs such as "Being Boiled" and "Temptation".

1956

Bill Laimbeer

American basketball player and coach

William J. Laimbeer Jr. is an American former professional basketball coach and player who spent the majority of his career with the Detroit Pistons. Known for his physical style of play, he played a big part in the…

1957

James Reyne

Nigerian-Australian singer-songwriter

James Michael Nugent Reyne OAM is an Australian musician. He achieved fame as the lead singer of Australian Crawl and Company of Strangers and subsequently went on to a successful solo career.

1957

Vadim Cojocaru

Moldovan politician (died 2021)

Vadim Cojocaru was a Moldovan politician.

1961

Gregory Poirier

American director, producer, and screenwriter

Gregory Stephen Poirier is an American film and television writer, director, and producer.

1961

Wayne Van Dorp

Canadian ice hockey player

Wayne Van Dorp is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played for the Edmonton Oilers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Chicago Blackhawks and Quebec Nordiques. In The Netherlands he played for Feenstra Flyers…

1961

Filippo Galli

Italian footballer and manager

Filippo Galli is an Italian football manager and former player, who played as a defender.

1963

Peter Jackson

Australian rugby league player and sportscaster (died 1997)

Peter Jackson was an Australian professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s. Nicknamed 'Jacko', he was an Australia national and Queensland State of Origin representative centre or…

1964

John Lee

South Korean-American football player

John Lee is a Korean former player of American football who was a placekicker for the St. Louis Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UCLA Bruins, twice earning All-American…

1964

Miloslav Mečíř

Slovak tennis player

Miloslav Mečíř is a Slovak former professional tennis player. He won the singles gold medal at the 1988 Olympic Games, representing Czechoslovakia, and contested two major singles finals. In 1987 he won the WCT Finals,…

1964

Maile Flanagan

American actress, producer, and screenwriter

Maile Flanagan is an American actress and comedian. She is best known as the voice of Naruto Uzumaki in the English dub of the Naruto franchise. Other prominent roles include voicing Piggley Winks in Jakers! The…

1965

Marc Bureau

Canadian ice hockey player and sportscaster

Marc Joseph Denis Bureau is a Canadian former ice hockey centre who played in the National Hockey League for the Calgary Flames, Minnesota North Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers.

1966

Jodi Picoult

American author and educator

Jodi Lynn Picoult is an American writer. Picoult has published 28 novels and short stories, and has also written several issues of Wonder Woman. Approximately 40 million copies of her books are in print worldwide and…

1966

Polly Walker

English actress

Polly Alexandra Walker is an English actress. She has starred in the films Enchanted April (1991), Patriot Games (1992), Sliver (1993), Restoration (1995), The Gambler (1997), and Savage Messiah (2002). In 2006, she…

1966

Alexia

Italian singer

Alessia Aquilani, known professionally as Alexia, is an Italian singer-songwriter. Before recording in Italian in the 2000s, she made records in English in the 1990s. Many of those were international hits. Before her…

1967

Geraldine Somerville

Irish-born English actress

Geraldine Margaret Agnew-Somerville is an Irish-British actress. She is known for her roles in the film Gosford Park (2001) and the Harry Potter film series as an adult Lily Potter (2001–2011). Her other roles have…

1967

Kyle Eastwood

American actor and bass player

Kyle Eastwood is an American jazz bassist, film composer and actor. He studied film at the University of Southern California for two years before embarking on a music career. After becoming a session player in the early…

1968

Stuart Cable

Welsh drummer (died 2010)

Stuart James Cable was a Welsh rock drummer and broadcaster, best known as the original drummer for the band Stereophonics.

1970

K. J. Choi

South Korean golfer

Choi Kyung-Ju, commonly known as K. J. Choi, is a South Korean professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour Champions. Since turning pro in 1994, he has won more than thirty professional golf tournaments…

1970

Regina Narva

Estonian chess player

Regina Narva is an Estonian chess Woman FIDE Master (2007).

1970

Nia Zulkarnaen

Indonesian actress, singer and producer

Nia Zulkarnaen is an Indonesian singer, actress and producer. She is the daughter of the actor Dicky Zulkarnaen and veteran Indonesian actress Mieke Wijaya.

1970

Ross Katz

American director, producer, and screenwriter

Ross Katz is an American film producer, screenwriter and film director. He has executive produced films including In the Bedroom and Lost in Translation, and has directed the films Adult Beginners (2014) and The Choice…

1971

Andres Salumets

Estonian biologist, biochemist, and educator

Andres Salumets is an Estonian biologist, biochemist, and international infertility expert. He currently is Professor of Reproductive Medicine at the Karolinska Institute.

1971

Jenny Berggren

Swedish singer-songwriter

Jenny Cecilia Petrén, professionally known as Jenny Berggren and Jenny from Ace of Base is a Swedish mezzo-soprano singer and former lead singer in the Swedish pop band Ace of Base. Since 1995, she has also been writing…

1972

Dario Franchitti

Scottish race car driver

George Dario Marino Franchitti is a British motorsport commentator and semi-retired motor racing driver from Scotland. Franchitti won the IndyCar Series Drivers' Championship in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011; the…

1973

Andrew Johns

Australian rugby league player, coach, and sportscaster

Andrew Gary Johns, also known by the nickname Joey, is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. He is considered one of the greatest rugby league players of all time.…

1974

Emma Shapplin

French soprano

Emma Shapplin is a French soprano singer, composer and visual artist known for her fusion of operatic singing with electronic and pop music influences. She debuted in 1997 with the album Carmine Meo, which achieved…

1974

Nawazuddin Siddiqui

Indian actor

Nawazuddin Siddiqui is an Indian actor known for his work in Hindi cinema. He is the recipient of various accolades, including a National Film Award, an IIFA Award, and two Filmfare Awards, as well as a nomination for…

1974

Pretinha

Brazilian footballer

Delma Gonçalves, commonly known as Pretinha, is a Brazilian professional soccer coach and former forward. A longtime member of the Brazil national team, for whom she debuted in 1991, she played for clubs in Brazil, the…

1975

London Fletcher

American football player

London Levi Fletcher-Baker is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for 16 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the John Carroll Blue Streaks and…

1975

Josh Paul

American baseball player and manager

Joshua William Paul is an American former professional baseball catcher and professional coach. He most recently served as the quality control coach for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in…

1975

Jonas Renkse

Swedish singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer

Jonas Petter Renkse is a Swedish musician in the bands Katatonia (1991–) as lead vocalist, founder, songwriter and formerly as drummer ; formerly in Bloodbath (1998–2023) as bassist, founder, songwriter; and in Wisdom…

1975

Ed Cota

American basketball player

Eduardo Enrique Cota is a Panamanian-American former professional basketball player.

1976

Kevin Garnett

American basketball player

Kevin Maurice Garnett, commonly known by his initials KG, is an American former professional basketball player who played 21 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "the Big Ticket", Garnett is…

1976

Manuel Almunia

Spanish footballer

Manuel Almunia Rivero is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

1977

Wouter Hamel

Dutch singer and guitarist

Wouter Hamel is a Dutch pop singer. He released his debut album Hamel in March 2007. Hamel's style has been compared to Jamie Cullum's.

1977

Brandon Inge

American baseball player

Charles Brandon Inge is an American former professional baseball third baseman and catcher and currently a volunteer assistant coach for the Michigan Wolverines baseball team and an assistant coach for the Brighton High…

1977

Natalia Oreiro

Uruguayan singer-songwriter and actress

Natalia Marisa Oreiro Iglesias is a Uruguayan actress, singer, songwriter, model, television presenter and fashion designer. She began her career in telenovelas but since 2008 she has switched to work primarily in…

1977

Marcus Bent

English footballer

Marcus Nathan Bent is an English retired professional footballer. A former England under-21 international, the journeyman striker played 573 games and scored 113 goals for 14 different clubs. His numerous transfer fees…

1978

Dave Bus

Dutch footballer

David Bus is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a defender.

1978

Andrea Pirlo

Italian footballer

Andrea Pirlo is an Italian football manager and former player who is currently the head coach of UAE First Division League club Dubai United. Considered one of the greatest midfielders of all time, Pirlo was known for…

1979

Diego Forlán

Uruguayan footballer

Diego Forlán Corazo is a Uruguayan football manager and a former player, who played as a forward, and last served as head coach for Uruguayan Segunda División club Club Atlético Atenas. Widely regarded as one of the…

1979

Shooter Jennings

American country singer, songwriter

Waylon Albright "Shooter" Jennings is an American musician and record producer. He is the son of country singers Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter. In a career spanning three decades, Jennings has explored a variety of…

1979

Tony Hackworth

English footballer

Anthony Hackworth is an English retired footballer and manager, who played as an attacking midfielder.He was most recently manager of. Pickering Town.

1980

Luciano Figueroa

Argentinian footballer

Luciano Gabriel "Lucho" Figueroa Herrera is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as a striker.

1981

Yo Gotti

American rapper

Mario Mims, known professionally as Yo Gotti, is an American rapper, singer, record executive, and record producer. Rooted in Memphis rap, he released five independent albums—Youngsta's on a Come Up (1996), From da Dope…

1981

Michael Leighton

Canadian ice hockey player

Michael W. Leighton is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators, Philadelphia Flyers and Carolina Hurricanes.…

1981

Sina Schielke

German sprinter

Sina Schielke is a German former sprinter. Her personal bests are 11.16 seconds in the 100 metres, 22.78 in the 200 metres, and 7.19 seconds in the indoor 60 metres.

1981

Klaas-Erik Zwering

Dutch swimmer

Klaas-Erik Zwering is a former Dutch swimmer and an Olympic medalist. He is currently studying MBO entrepreneurship as he trained in Eindhoven with the PSV Eindhoven swim club. His personal coach was Jacco Verhaeren,…

1981

Kevin Amankwaah

English footballer

Kevin Osei-Kuffour Amankwaah is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender. He enjoyed successful stints at Bristol City and Swindon Town.

1982

Pål Steffen Andresen

Norwegian footballer

Pål Steffen Andresen is a Norwegian football defender who plays for Strømmen.

1982

Klaas Vantornout

Belgian cyclist

Klaas Vantornout is a Belgian former professional racing cyclist, who rode professionally between 2006 and 2018 for the Fidea and Marlux–Bingoal teams. Vantornout was the winner of the Belgian National Cyclo-cross…

1982

Michael Che

American comedian

Michael Che Campbell is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and writer. Che is best known for his work on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live, where he has served as co-anchor on Weekend Update alongside…

1983

Jessica Fox

English actress

Jessica Ann Fox is an English actress. She played Enid Nightshade in the children's television series The Worst Witch and later gained soap opera roles as Belle Wise in Crossroads and Nancy Hayton in Hollyoaks.

1983

Marcedes Lewis

American football player

Marcedes Alexis Lewis, nicknamed "Big Dog", is an American professional football tight end. He played college football for the UCLA Bruins, earning consensus All-American honors. Lewis was selected by the Jacksonville…

1984

Malakai Black

Dutch professional wrestler

Tom Büdgen is a Dutch professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on the SmackDown brand under the ring name Aleister Black.

1985

Mario Chalmers

American basketball player

Almario "Mario" Vernard Chalmers is an American professional basketball player who is currently a free agent. He was selected as the 34th overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves after playing…

1986

Michael Angelakos

American singer-songwriter and producer

Michael John Angelakos is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known as the frontman of the indietronica band Passion Pit.

1987

David Edgar

Canadian soccer player

David Edward Edgar is a Canadian soccer coach and former professional player.

1987

Mariano Torres

Argentinian footballer

Mariano Néstor Torres is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for and captains Liga FPD club Saprissa.

1987

Jordan Pruitt

American singer-songwriter

Jordan Pruitt Fuente is an American former singer-songwriter. She released two studio albums on Hollywood Records — No Ordinary Girl (2007) and Permission to Fly (2008) — and toured as an opening act for artists…

1991

Michele Camporese

Italian footballer

Michele Camporese is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Serie C Group B club Livorno.

1992

Ola John

Dutch footballer

Ola John is a professional footballer who plays for Al-Arabi as a left winger. Born in Liberia, he has represented the Netherlands national team.

1992

Felise Kaufusi

New Zealand-Tongan rugby league player

Felise Kaufusi is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row or prop forward for the Dolphins in the National Rugby League (NRL), and Tonga and Australia at international level.

1992

Evgeny Kuznetsov

Russian ice hockey player

Yevgeny Evgenyevich Kuznetsov is a Russian professional ice hockey player who is a forward for Salavat Yulaev Ufa of the KHL. He most recently played for Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He…

1992

Marshmello

American electronic music producer and DJ

Christopher Comstock, known professionally as Marshmello and formerly as Dotcom, is an American DJ and record producer. His songs "Silence", "Wolves", "Friends", "Happier", and "Alone" have each received multi-platinum…

1992

Sam Smith

English singer-songwriter

Samuel Frederick Smith is an English singer and songwriter. In 2012, they rose to prominence when they featured on Disclosure's breakthrough single "Latch", which peaked at number eleven on the UK Singles Chart. The…

1992

Heather Watson

British tennis player

Heather Miriam Watson is a British professional tennis player. A former British No. 1, Watson has won ten titles over her career, including the mixed-doubles title at the 2016 Wimbledon Championships, partnering Henri…

1992

Lainey Wilson

American singer-songwriter

Lainey Denay Wilson is an American country singer-songwriter and actress. She performed at an early age, before going to Nashville to pursue a career as a pop music performer. In 2014, she released her first album on…

1992

Carlos Guzmán

Mexican footballer

{{spouse Michelle Deam

1994

Taane Milne

New Zealand rugby league player

Taane Milne is a Fiji international rugby league footballer who plays as a centre, second-row or loose forward for the Huddersfield Giants in the Super League.

1995

Michael Carcone

Canadian ice hockey player

Michael Carcone is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is a forward for the Utah Mammoth of the National Hockey League (NHL). Undrafted, Carcone began his professional career in the American Hockey League…

1996

Elizabeth Mandlik

American tennis player

Elizabeth Hana Mandlik is an American tennis player. She is the daughter of former major champion Hana Mandlíková.

2001

Riccardo Calafiori

Italian footballer

Riccardo Calafiori is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Premier League club Arsenal and the Italy national team.

2002

Rafa Marín

Spanish footballer

Rafael Marín Zamora is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for La Liga club Villarreal, on loan from Serie A club Napoli.

2002

Jojo Siwa

American dancer, singer, actress, and YouTube personality

Joelle Joanie "JoJo" Siwa is an American singer, dancer, actress, and media personality. From 2015 to 2016, she appeared as a dancer on two seasons of the reality television show Dance Moms alongside her mother,…

2003

Famous birthdays

Who was born on May 19?

Claudia Karvan — Australian actress (born 1972)

FeaturedClaudia Karvan

Birth year1972

Known forAs a child actor, she first appeared in the film Molly (1983) and followed with an adolescent role in High Tide (1987)

Birthdays on this date203 (1400 – 2003)

Explore May 19

Jump between the main pages for this date to compare events, people, and the daily quiz.

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2024

A helicopter crash in Iran leaves 8 people dead, including the country's president Ebrahim Raisi & foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. Wikipedia →

2018

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is held at St George's Chapel, Windsor, with an estimated global audience of 1.9 billion. Wikipedia →

2016

EgyptAir Flight 804 crashes into the Mediterranean Sea while traveling from Paris to Cairo, killing all on board. Wikipedia →

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Famous Birthdays on May 19

1972 — Claudia Karvan

As a child actor, she first appeared in the film Molly (1983) and followed with an adolescent role in High Tide (1987)

She won two similar AFI Awards for her role in Love My Way and in 2014 for her work in The Time of Our Lives (2013–2014)

As a co-producer and co-writer on Love My Way, she won three further AFI Awards for Best Drama Series in 2005, 2006 and 2007

She portrayed a teacher who falls in love with her student in The Heartbreak Kid (1993)

Karvan's roles in television series include The Secret Life of Us (2001–2005), Love My Way (2004–2007), Newton's Law (2017) and Halifax: Retribution (2020)

Who was born on May 19?

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Also on May 19 in History

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