Famous Birthdays on December 5

Birthdays 1 - 200 of 218

• 1377 Jianwen, 2nd Emperor of the Ming Empire (1398-1402), born in China (d. 1402)

• 1495 Nicolas Cleynaerts, Flemish grammarian, born in Diest, Belgium (d. 1542)
• 1537 Ashikaga Yoshiaki, 15th Japanese shōgun, born in Japan (d. 1597)
• 1539 Fausto Paolo Sozzini, Italian theologian and founder of Socinianism, born in Siena, Holy Roman Empire (d. 1604)
• 1547 Ubbo Emmius [van Embden], Dutch-Frisian humanist and historian, born in Greetsiel, East Frisia (d. 1625)
• 1661 Robert Haley, 1st Earl of Oxford and English premier (Whig, 1710-14), born in Covent Garden, Middlesex, Kingdom of England (d. 1725)
• 1661 Robert Harley, English diplomat and statesman (Lord High Treasurer, 1711-14; Chancellor of the Exchequer, 1710-11; Secretary of State, 1704-08), born in Covent Garden, Middlesex, Kingdom of England (d. 1724)
• 1666 Francesco Scarlatti, Italian composer, born in Palermo, Sicily (d. ~1741)
• 1687 Francesco Geminiani, Italian violinist and composer, born in Lucca, Republic of Lucca (now Italy) (d. 1762)
• 1697 Carlo Arrigoni, Italian composer and musician, born in Florence, Grand Duchy of Tuscany (now Italy) (d. 1744)
• 1697 Giuseppe de Majo, Italian composer and organist, born in Naples, Kingdom of Naples, Spanish Empire (now Italy) (d. 1771)
• 1724 Joseph Friebert, Austrian composer, born in Gnadendorf, Lower Austria (d. 1799)

• 1786 Henry Drummond, English banker and religious leader, born in The Grange, Hampshire (d. 1860)
• 1803 Fyodor Tyutchev, Russian poet and statesman, born in Bryansk, Oryol Governorate, Russian Empire (d. 1873)
• 1810 Lorenzo Langstroth, American apiarist (invented modern beehive), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 1895) [1]
• 1820 Afanasy Fet, Russian poet, born in Mtsensk, Russia (d. 1892)
• 1822 Elizabeth Cabot Agassiz, American educator and the co-founder and first president of Radcliffe College, born in Boston, Massachusetts (d. 1907)
• 1824 Titian James Coffey, Atty Gen (Union), (d. 1867)
• 1826 John Benjamin Sanborn, American lawyer, politician, and Brevet Major General (Union Army), born in Epsom, New Hampshire (d. 1904)
• 1829 Henri-Gustave Joly de Lotbinière, French-Canadian politician (7th Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia), born in Épernay, France (d. 1908)
• 1830 Christina Rossetti, English poet (Winter Rain, Passing Away), born in London, England (d. 1894)

• 1841 Marcus Daly, Irish-American mining tycoon, born in Ballyjamesduff, Ulster, Ireland (d. 1900)
• 1844 Frederick Bridge, English organist and composer, born in Oldbury, Worcestershire (d. 1924)
• 1848 Edwin Blashfield, American painter who decorated the dome of Library of Congress, born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 1936)
• 1852 Thomas Laub, Danish organist and composer, born in Langå, Denmark (d. 1927)
• 1855 Clinton Hart Merriam, American zoologist and ornithologist, born in New York City (d. 1942)

• 1861 Armando Diaz, Italian marshal and minister of War (1922-24), born in Naples, Kingdom of Italy (d. 1928)
• 1863 Paul Painlevé, French Prime Minister (1917, 1925), born in Paris (d. 1933)
• 1867 Antti Aarne, Finnish folklorist, born in Pori, Finland (d. 1925)

• 1868 Arnold Sommerfeld, German physicist, born in Königsberg, Prussia (d. 1951)
• 1869 Ellis Parker Butler, American author (Pigs is Pigs), born in Muscatine, Iowa (d. 1937)
• 1870 Vítězslav Novák, Czech composer, born in Kamenice nad Lipou, Czech Republic (d. 1949)
• 1871 Bill Pickett, American rodeo performer (invented bulldogging), born in Jenks-Branch, Texas (d. 1932)
• 1872 Harry Nelson Pillsbury, American chess player, born in Somerville, Massachusetts (d. 1906)

• 1878 Arrigo Pedrollo, Italian composer, born in Montebello Vicentino, Veneto, Italy (d. 1964)
• 1879 Clyde Cessna, American aviator and airplane manufacturer, born in Hawthorne, Louisiana (d. 1954)
• 1880 Alexander Schmuller, Russian-Dutch violinist and conductor, born in Mazyr, Belarus (d. 1933)
• 1881 Coretté Alefred [Hardy], American-Russian-Soviet jazz, spiritual and pop lyrical and dramatic soprano, dancer, and actress, born in Churchville, New York (d. 1951)
• 1884 Evert Cornelis, Dutch conductor and pianist, born in Amsterdam (d. 1931)
• 1886 Pieter Oud, Dutch politician and Mayor of Rotterdam (1945-52), born in Purmerend, Netherlands (d. 1968)
• 1888 Áskell Snorrason, Icelandic composer, born in Öndolfsstaðir, Iceland (d. 1970)
• 1890 David Bomberg, English painter, born in Birmingham, England (d. 1957)
• 1890 Fritz Lang, Austrian-German-American filmmaker and screenwriter (Metropolis), born in Vienna, Austria (d. 1976)
• 1891 Al Boasberg, American vaudeville, radio and film comedy writer (Jack Benny; Bob Hope; The Marx Brothers), born In Buffalo, New York (d. 1937)
• 1891 Alexander Rodchenko, Russian painter and photographer, born in St Petersburg (d. 1956)
• 1892 Cyril Ring, American actor (I Wake Up Screaming, The Barber Shop), born in Boston, Massachusetts (d. 1967)
• 1894 C. R. Swart, South African politician (1st State President of South Africa 1961-67), born in Winburg, Orange Free State (d. 1982)
• 1894 Philip K Wrigley, American baseball executive (owner Chicago Cubs 1932-77), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1977)
• 1895 Elbert Frank Cox, African-American mathematician (first African-American to receive PhD in Mathematics), born in Evansville, Indiana (d. 1969)
• 1896 Carl Ferdinand Cori, Czech-American bio-chemist (Nobel 1947-discovery of how glycogen (animal starch) – a derivative of glucose – is broken down and resynthesized in the body, for use as a store and source of energy), born in Prague (d. 1984)
• 1896 Lady Huxley [Marie Juliette Baillot], Swiss sculptor and author, born in Auvernier, Switzerland (d. 1994)
• 1896 Willem Frederik Meinhardt Lampe, Dutch ambassador of the Dutch Antilles, born in the Netherlands Antilles (d. 1973)
• 1897 Nunnally Johnson, American screenwriter and producer, born in Columbus, Georgia (d. 1977)
• 1898 Grace Moore, American soprano and actress (One Night of Love), born in Slabtown, Tennessee (d. 1947)
• 1898 Josh Malihabadi, Urdu poet of India and Pakistan, born in Malihabad, North-Western Provinces, British India (d. 1982)
• 1899 Sonny Boy Williamson II [Aleck Miller], American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter, born in Tallahatchie County, Mississippi (d. 1965) (year of birth disputed)
• 1901 Hanns Jelinek, Austrian composer, born in Vienna (d. 1969)
• 1901 Milton H. Erickson, American psychiatrist and psychologist, born in Aurum, Nevada (d. 1980)
• 1901 Ray Whitley, American country and western singer-songwriter ("Back in the Saddle Again") and actor (Tim Holt films), born in Atlanta, Georgia (d. 1979)

• 1905 Bruce Drake, American Basketball Hall of Fame coach (University of Oklahoma 1938-55, 200-181), born in The Gentry, Texas (d. 1983)
• 1905 Gus Mancuso, American baseball catcher (World Series 1931, 33; MLB All Star 1935, 37; NY Giants, St. Louis Cardinals) and broadcaster (Cardinals' radio network), born in Galveston, Texas (d. 1984)
• 1905 Otto Preminger, Austro-Hungarian-American theatre and film director, producer (Laura,; Advise & Consent; Anatomy of A Murder), and actor (Stalag 17), born in Wiznitz, Austria-Hungary (d. 1986)
• 1907 Giuseppe Occhialini, Italian physicist (Contribution to the discovery of the pion or pi-meson decay), born in Fossombrone, Pesaro, Italy (d. 1993)
• 1907 Lin Biao, Chinese Communist Marshal during the Civil War and party leader, born in Huanggang, Hubei, Qing Empire (d. 1971)
• 1910 Abraham Polonsky, American writer and director (Tell them Willie Boy is Here), born in New York City (d. 1999)
• 1911 Alfred Manessier, French painter (leaded windows), born in Saint-Ouen, Somme, France (d. 1993)
• 1911 Władysław Szpilman, Polish pianist and classical composer, born in Sosnowiec, Congress Poland, Russian Empire (d. 2000)
• 1912 Maisie Fitter, editor and conservationist (d. 1996)
• 1914 Hans Hellmut Kirst, German author (The Lieutenant Must Be Mad), born in Osterode, Germany (d. 1989)
• 1914 Lina Bo Bardi, Italian born Brazilian modernist architect (SESC Pompéia Factory), born in Rome, Italy (d. 1992)
• 1915 Carl Donnell "Kansas" Fields, American jazz drummer, born in Chapman, Kansas (d. 1995)
• 1916 Margaret Hayes, American actress (Blackboard Jungle, Robert Montgomery Presents), born in Baltimore, Maryland (d. 1977)
• 1917 Simone Gallimard, French editor and publisher (d. 1995)
• 1919 Victor Collin Matthews, British businessman, born in Islington, London (d. 1995)
• 1921 Alvin "Alvy" Moore, American comic actor (Green Acres, Scream, Intruder), born in Vincennes, Indiana (d. 1997)
• 1921 George Henderson, Scottish priest (Bishop of Argyll and the Isles from 1977-92), born in Oban, Scotland (d. 1996)
• 1921 Peter Hansen, American actor (General Hospital, The War of the Roses), born in Oakland, California (d. 2017)
• 1923 Johnny Pate, American jazz bassist (Stuff Smith, James Moody), pop, soul and R&B arranger and producer (The Impressions, Peabo Bryson), born in Chicago Heights, Illinois
• 1923 Vladimir Tendryakov, Russian writer (Three, Seven, Ace), born in Makarovskaya, Vologda Oblast (d. 1984)
• 1924 (Georgios) "George" Savalas, Greek-American actor (Kojak; Kelly's Heroes), born in The Bronx, New York (d. 1985)
• 1924 Beverly Hanson, American golfer (Western Open 1956; Titleholders C'ship 1958; Women's PGA C'ship 1955), born in Fargo, North Dakota (d. 2014)

• 1925 Glen "Frosty" Little, American circus clown (Ringling Brothers, 1968-91), and instructor (Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College, 1980-87), born in Genoa, Nebraska (d. 2010)

• 1930 Brian Tobin, Australian tennis executive (President International Tennis Federation 1991-99; International Tennis HOF), born in Perth, Australia (d. 2024)
• 1932 Fazu Aliyeva, Russian poet, novelist and journalist who helped develop Dagestani in Russian literature, born in Khunzakhsky District, Soviet Union (d. 2016)
• 1932 James Cleveland, American gospel singer, born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1991)

• 1932 Sheldon Lee Glashow, American theoretical physicist (Electroweak theory, Georgi–Glashow model), born in New York City
• 1933 Bernard van Beurden, Dutch composer and music educator, born in Amsterdam (d. 2016)
• 1933 Edward Daly, Irish Bishop "Bloody Sunday" priest, born in Belleek, County Fermanagh (d. 2016)
• 1934 Art Davis, American bassist ("A Time Remembered"), born in Hamburg, Pennsylvania (d. 2007)
• 1934 Eberhard Jüngel, German Lutheran theologian, born in Magdeburg, Germany (d. 2021)
• 1934 Joan Didion, American author and journalist (The year of Magical Thinking), born in Sacramento, California
• 1935 Calvin Trillin, American author (New Yorker), born in Kansas City, Missouri
• 1935 Yury Vlasov, Ukrainian weightlifter (Olympic gold USSR heavyweight 1960, 64; World C'ship gold x 4) and writer, born in Makeyevka, Ukraine (d. 2021)
• 1936 James Lee Burke, American writer (Dave Robicheaux series), born in Houston, Texas
• 1936 Robert Freeman, English photo-journalist and graphic designer (early Beatles album art and film posters), born in London (d. 2019) [1]
• 1938 Gennady Sapunov, Russian Greco-Roman wrestler (World C'ship gold lightweight 1963, 65; silver 1966) and coach (Soviet GR wrestling team 1979-90), born in Ust-Muya, Russia (d. 2023)
• 1938 J. D. McDuffie, American auto racer (653 x NASCAR Cup Series races; 106 x top-10 finishes), born in Upper Little River Township, North Carolina (d. 1991)
• 1938 J. J. Cale, American rock guitarist and songwriter ("After Midnight": "Call Me The Breeze"; "Cocaine"), born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (d. 2013)
• 1939 Frédéric van Rossum, Belgian pianist, composer (Waves; In memoriam Glenn Gould), and pedagogue, born in Ixelles, Belgium
• 1939 Horst Bastian, German writer and screenwriter, born in Exin (d. 1986)
• 1939 Jack Whitten, American abstract painter, born in Bessemer, Alabama (d. 2018)
• 1940 Adrian Street, Welsh professional wrestler, born in Brynmawr, Brecknockshire, Wales
• 1940 Peter Pohl, Swedish writer, born in Hamburg, Germany
• 1942 Daniel Revenu, French fencer (Olympic gold team foil 1968; bronze x 5; World C'ship gold 1971, 75), born in Issoudun, France (d. 2024)
• 1942 Randy Kirby, American actor (Randy-Girl From UNCLE), born in Chicago, Illinois
• 1943 Eva Joly, Norwegian-French magistrate and politician (Europe Écologie–The Greens), born in Grünerløkka, Oslo, Norway
• 1944 Jeroen Krabbé, Dutch actor (The Fugitive), born in Amsterdam
• 1945 Geoff Emerick, British sound engineer and record producer (Beatles; Elvis Costello), born in Crouch End, North London, England (d. 2018)
• 1945 J W "Corkey" Fornof, American stunt coordinator (Octopussy), born in New Orleans, Louisiana
• 1946 Andy Kim [Andrew Joachim], Canadian rocker (Baby, I Love You), born in Montreal, Quebec

• 1947 Bruce Golding, Jamaican politician (8th Prime Minister of Jamaica 2007-11), born in Chapelton, Jamaica
• 1947 Jim Messina, American guitarist and songwriter (Buffalo Springfield; Poco: Loggins & Messina - "Your Mamma Don't Dance"), born in Maywood, California
• 1947 Jim Plunkett, American College Football Hall of Fame quarterback (Heisman Trophy 1970, Stanford; Super Bowl 1980, 84 LA/Oakland Raiders), born in San Jose, California
• 1947 Jugderdemidjin Gurragcha, Mongolian cosmonaut (Soyuz 39), born in Gurvanbulag, Bulgan, Mongolia
• 1947 Kim Simmonds, Welsh blues-rock guitarist (Savoy Brown), born in Newbridge, Wales (d. 2022)
• 1947 Rick Wills, British bass guitarist (Peter Frampton, 1972-74: Foreigner, 1977-91), born in Cambridge, England
• 1947 Tony Gregory, Irish politician, born in Dublin
• 1949 Bruce E Melnick, American Cmdr USCG/astronaut (STS 41, STS 49), born in New York City
• 1949 Enrico Pieranunzi, Italian classically trained jazz pianist, and composer, born in Rome, Italy
• 1949 Lanny Wadkins, American golfer (PGA C'ship 1977), born in Richmond, Virginia
• 1949 Lewis Arlt, American actor (Littlest Victims, Ken-Another World), born in Kingston, New York
• 1949 Pamela Blair American stage actress, singer, and dancer (A Chorus Line), born in Bennington, Vermont (d. 2023)
• 1949 Ray Comfort, New Zealand evangelist, born in Christchurch, New Zealand
• 1950 Camarón de la Isla [José Monge Cruz], Spanish flamenco singer, born in San Fernando, Cádiz, Spain (d. 1992)
• 1950 Juris Podnieks, Latvian filmmaker (Is It Easy to Be Young?), born in Riga Latvian SSR, Soviet Union (d. 1992)
• 1950 Osvaldo Golijov, Argentine composer (Oceana), born in La Plata, Argentina
• 1951 Anne-Mie van Kerckhoven, Belgian artist, born in Antwerp
• 1951 Morgan Brittany [Suzanne Cupito], American actress (Katherine-Dallas), born in Los Angeles, California
• 1951 Tom Purtzer, American golfer (5 PGA Tour titles), born in Des Moines, Iowa
• 1952 Bobby Barth, American rocker vocalist and guitarist (Axe), born in Coffeyville, Kansas
• 1953 John Molo, American rock and jazz drummer (Bruce Hornsby and The Range; Moonalice), born in Bethesda, Maryland)
• 1953 Larry Zbyszko [Lawrence Whistler], American professional wrestler (WCW/AWA/NWA/WWF), and ringside commentator, born in Chicago, Illinois
• 1956 Brian Backer, American Tony Award-winning stage and screen actor (Fast Times at Ridgemont High), born in Brooklyn, New York
• 1956 Klaus Allofs, German soccer striker (56 caps West Germany; Fortuna Düsseldorf, 1. FC Köln, Marseille, Bordeaux, Werder Bremen) and manager (Fortuna Düsseldorf; GM Werder Bremen 1999-2012),), born in Düsseldorf, Germany
• 1956 Krystian Zimerman, Polish pianist and conductor, born in Zabrze, Poland
• 1957 Art Monk, American College-Pro Football HOF wide receiver (Syracuse University; Super Bowl 1982, 87, 91; First-team All-Pro 1984; 3 × Pro Bowl; Washington Redskins), born in White Plains, New York
• 1957 Marcelino Sánchez, Puerto Rican actor (The Warriors), born in Cayey, Puerto Rico (d. 1986)
• 1958 Dean Erickson, American actor and founder and CEO of Bionic Capital LLC, born in Maine
• 1958 Patrick Hawkes, English composer, organist, pianist, and conductor, born in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England
• 1959 Connie Needham Newton, American actress (Eight is Enough, Fame), born in Anaheim, California
• 1959 Nikki Gianulias, American ten-pin bowler (LPBT Rookie of Year 1979), born in Vallejo, California
• 1959 Shirley Furlong, American golfer (ANA Inspiration runner-up 1990), born in San Antonio, Texas
• 1960 Brian Bromberg, American jazz bass player (You Know That Feeling), born in Tucson, Arizona
• 1960 Jack Russell, American rocker (Great White-Twice Shy), born in Montebello, California
• 1960 Les Nemes, English rock bassist (Haircut 100), born in Croydon, England
• 1962 José Cura, Argentine tenor, born in Rosario, Argentina
• 1963 Carrie Hamilton, American actress (Fame), born in New York City (d. 2002)
• 1963 Eddie "the Eagle" Edwards, English ski jumper (subject of 2015 movie "Eddie the Eagle"), born in Cheltenham, England
• 1964 Pablo Morales, American swimmer (Olympic gold 4x100m medley relay 1984, 92; 100m butterfly 1992), born in Chicago, Illinois
• 1965 Johnny Rzeznik, American singer, songwriter and guitarist (Goo Goo Dolls), born in Buffalo, New York
• 1965 Wayne Smith, Jamaican reggae musician (Under Mi Sleng Teng), born in Kingston, Jamaica
• 1966 Joseph Barbara, American actor (Joe Carlino-Another World), born in New Smyrna Beach, Florida
• 1966 Niege Dias, Brazilian tennis star, born in Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil
• 1966 Patricia Kaas, French pop singer (Mademoiselle Chant), born in Forbach, Lorraine, France
• 1967 Gary Allan, American country musician (Used Heart For Sale), born in La Mirada, California
• 1967 Konstantin-Assen, Prince of Vidin (fourth son of Tsar Simeon II of Bulgaria and his wife Doña Margarita Gómez-Acebo y Cejuela), born in Madrid
• 1967 René Shuman, Dutch bandleader and singer, born in Geleen, Limburg, Netherlands
• 1968 Catherine Tate [née Ford], English actress and comedian (The Catherine Tate Show, Doctor Who), born in Bloomsbury, London, England

• 1968 Margaret Cho, American actress and comedienne (Face/Off), born in San Francisco, California
• 1969 Lewis Gordon Pugh, English-South African swimmer, polar explorer and motivational speaker, born in Plymouth, England
• 1969 Mark Dekker, Zimbabwe cricket opening batsman, born in Gatooma, Rhodesia
• 1969 Morgan J. Freeman, American film director (Hurricane Streets), born in Long Beach, California
• 1969 Sajid Javid, British politician, Home Secretary (2018-), born in Littleborough, England
• 1970 Susan Sloane, American tennis star, born in Lexington, Kentucky
• 1970 Thomas Smith, American NFL cornerback (Buffalo Bills), born in Gates, North Carolina
• 1971 Bryan Schwartz, American NFL linebacker (Jacksonville Jaguars), born in St. Lawrence, South Dakota
• 1971 Joe Fleming, American CFL defensive end (CFL All-Star 1998, 2000, 01, 03; Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Calgary Stampeders), born in Wellesley, Massachusetts
• 1971 Kali Rocha, American actress (Liv and Maddie), born in Memphis, Tennessee
• 1972 Angela Shelton, American actress and screenwriter (Tumbleweeds), born in Asheville, North Carolina
• 1972 Cliff Floyd, MLB outfielder and 1st base (Montreal Expos), born in Chicago, Illinois
• 1972 Mike Mahoney, American baseball player, born in Des Moines, Iowa
• 1972 Randolph Ross, American 110m hurdler, born in Shelby, North Carolina
• 1972 Roderick Mullen, American NFL defensive back (Green Bay Packers-Super Bowl 31), born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
• 1973 Corissa Yasen, American WNBA forward and guard (Sacramento Monarchs), born in Omaha, Nebraska
• 1973 Luboš Motl, Czech theoretical physicist, born in Plzeň, Czech Republic
• 1973 Shalom Harlow, model (House of Style, Harper's Bazaar), born in Toronto, Ontario
• 1973 Sorin Grindeanu, Romanian Prime Minister (2017), born in Caransebeș, Romania
• 1974 Charlie Batch, American NFL quarterback (Pittsburgh Steelers), born in Homestead, Pennsylvania
• 1975 Paula Patton, American actress (Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol), born in Los Angeles, California

• 1976 Amy Acker, American actress (Root-Person of Interest), born in Dallas, Texas
• 1976 Evonne Hsu, Taiwanese-American Mando-pop singer, born in Longview, Texas
• 1976 Xavier Garbajosa, French rugby union outside back (32 Tests, Grand Slam 1998, 2002; Toulouse RFC, Aviron Bayonnais), born in Toulouse, France
• 1978 Marcelo Zalayeta, Uruguayan footballer (Juventus), born in Montevideo, Uruguay
• 1978 Neil Druckmann, Israeli-American writer and co-president Naughty Dog, born in Israel

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• Year of the Rabbit
  2023
• Year of the Dragon
  2024
• Year of the Snake
  2025
• Year of the Horse
  2026
• Year of the Goat/Sheep
  2027
• Year of the Monkey
  2028