Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift.

Famous People Born in May 1901

  • May 1 Antal Szerb, Hungarian author (The Pendragon Legend; Journey by Moonlight), and literary scholar (History of World Literature), born in Budapest, Hungary (d. 1945) [1]
  • May 1 Heinz Roemheld, American film composer (Yankee Doodle Dandy; Ruby Gentry), born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (d. 1985)
  • May 1 Slats Gill, Basketball Hall of Fame coach (36 seasons Oregon State 1928-64), born in Salem, Oregon (d. 1966)
  • May 2 Bob Wyatt, English cricket all-rounder and captain (40 Tests, 2 x 100, HS 149, 18 wickets; Warwickshire CCC, Worcestershire CCC), born in Milford, England (d. 1995)
  • May 2 Lev Lunts, Russian writer (Outside the Law, City of Truth), born in Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire (d. 1924)
  • May 2 Willi Bredel, German anti-Nazi communist writer (Die Prüfung), born in Hamburg, German Empire (d. 1964)
  • May 3 Gino Cervi, Italian actor (Les Miserables, Naked Maja), born in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Kingdom of Italy (d. 1974)
  • May 5 Blind Willie McTell, American ragtime singer and guitarist, born in Thomson, Georgia (d. 1959)

Gary Cooper (1901-1961)

May 7 American actor (Sgt York, High Noon), born in Helena, Montana

  • May 7 Lowell T. Coggeshall, American medical scientist and US Secretary of HEW (1956-58), born in Saratoga, Indiana (d. 1987)
  • May 7 Marcel Poot, Belgian baron and composer, born in Vilvoorde, Belgium (d. 1988)
  • May 8 Turkey Stearnes, American Baseball HOF outfielder (5 × NgL All-Star; 2 × Negro NL batting champion; KC Monarchs, Chicago American Giants), born in Nashville, Tennessee (d. 1979)
  • May 9 George Duckworth, English cricket wicket-keeper (24 Tests, 60 dismissals), born in Warrington, Lancashire, England (d. 1966)
  • May 9 John Forest "Fuzzy" Knight, American actor (Oklahoma Annie, Cowby & the Lady), born in Fairmont, West Virginia (d. 1976)
  • May 10 Albert Dondeyne, Belgian philosopher and theologist, born in Lo, Belgium (d. 1985)
  • May 11 Mari Sandoz, American author (Cheyenne Autumn), born in Hay Springs, Nebraska (d. 1966)
  • May 12 Hyam Greenbaum, British violinist, composer and conductor of the 1st TV orchestra (BBC), born in England (d. 1942)

Witold Pilecki (1901-1948)

May 13 Polish WWII resistance fighter (volunteered to go to Auschwitz, Witold's Report), born in Olonets, Russian Empire

  • May 14 Robert Ritter, German psychologist (d. 1951)
  • May 15 Edmond Hall, American jazz clarinetist (Red Allen; Teddy Wilson), bandleader (Café Society Band), and composer (Profoundly Blue), born in Reserve, Louisiana (d. 1967)
  • May 15 Luis Monti, Argentine-Italian footballer (d. 1983)
  • May 15 Xavier Herbert, Australian author (d. 1984)
  • May 17 Werner Egk, German composer (Die Zaubergeige), born in Donauwörth, Germany (d. 1983)
  • May 18 Harry Robert Wilson, American composer, born in Salina, Kansas (d. 1968)
  • May 18 Henri Sauguet [Poupard], French organist and composer (Symphonie Expiatoire; La Chotta), born in Bordeau, France (d. 1989)
  • May 18 Vincent du Vigneaud, American biochemist (1955 Nobel Prize for Chemisty for work on cyclic peptide oxytocin), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1978)
  • May 19 Manuel Ivo Cruz, Portuguese composer and founder of Philharmonic Orchestra of Lisbon, born in Corumbá, Brazil (d. 1985)
  • May 20 Max Euwe, Dutch World Chess Champion (1935-37), born in The Netherlands (d. 1981)
  • May 20 Otto Waldis, Austrian actor (Port of Hell, Unknown World), born in Vienna, Austria-Hungary (d. 1974)
  • May 21 Horace Heidt, American orchestra leader (Swift Show Wagon), born in Alameda, California (d. 1986)
  • May 21 Sam Jaffe, American music and film producer (Born Free, The Fighting Sullivans), born in Harlem, New York (d. 2000)
  • May 21 Suzanne Lilar, Belgian writer (Le burlador), born in Ghent, Belgium (d. 1992)
  • May 22 Maurice J. Tobin, 56th Governor of Massachusetts, born in Boston, Massachusetts (d. 1953)
  • May 23 Edmund Rubbra, English composer (Morning Watch), born in Semilong, Northampton, England (d. 1986)
  • May 24 Frank Signorelli, American swing jazz pianist (Original Dixieland Jazz Band; Joe Venuti's Blue Four), and songwriter (Stairway to the Stars), born in New York City (d. 1975)
  • May 24 José Nasazzi, Uruguayan soccer defender (41 caps; captain FIFA World Cup 1930; CA Bella Vista 322 games), born in Montevideo, Uruguay (d. 1968)
  • May 25 Milenko Živković, Serbian composer, conductor, and pedagogue, born in Belgrade, Kingdom of Serbia (d. 1964)
  • May 27 Conrad Elvehjem, American biochemist and nutrition scientist (discovered niacin), born in McFarland, Wisconsin (d. 1962)
  • May 30 Cornelia Otis Skinner, American actress and writer (When Our Hearts Were Young & Gay), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1979)
  • May 31 Alfredo Antonini, Italian-American Emmy Award-winning conductor (CBS Symphony; Columbia Pan-American Orchestra), and composer (The Great City), born in Alessandria, Kingdom of Ital (d. 1983)

About May 1901

How Old? 123 years old
Generation: Greatest Generation
Leap Year: No

Chinese Zodiac: Ox
Star Signs: Taurus (Apr 20 - May 20), Gemini (May 21 - Jun 20)