Famous people and celebrities born in May 1912

Welcome to our dedicated page for celebrating the notable individuals born in May 1912! This month and year saw the birth of many influential figures who have made significant contributions to various fields, including entertainment, sports, politics, and more. Explore the biographies and achievements of these famous personalities and see how their talents have shaped the world. Join us in honoring the stars born in this memorable time.

May 2 Axel Springer
Influential German media entrepreneur who revolutionized post-war journalism through publications like Bild and Hamburger Abendblatt, significantly shaping public discourse and media landscape in Germany.
May 5 Alice Faye
American actress and singer known as America's singing sweetheart. She was a top box-office star at 20th Century Fox during the 1930s and 1940s, rising to fame after joining a chorus at just 13 years old.
May 7 Pannalal Patel
Prominent Gujarati novelist and writer who significantly contributed to modern Gujarati literature during the mid-20th century.
May 8 George Woodcock
Canadian intellectual and polymath who significantly contributed to Canadian literature and anarchist thought. He founded 'Canadian Literature' journal and wrote extensively on anarchism, travel, and literary criticism. His comprehensive work 'Anarchism - A History of Libertarian Ideas and Movements' remains a seminal text in the field.
May 11 Saadat Hasan Manto
Renowned Urdu writer and playwright who is considered one of the most significant literary figures in South Asian literature, known for his powerful and controversial short stories about partition.
May 12 Marshall Royal
Renowned jazz musician known for his exceptional skills on saxophone and clarinet. A significant figure in the mid-20th century jazz scene.
May 13 Gil Evans
Influential Canadian-American jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader who significantly impacted modern jazz music.
May 15 Jean-Denis Malclès
Renowned French graphic artist and costume designer who created iconic posters for theater and cinema, including Jean Cocteau's 'Beauty and the Beast'.
May 15 Arthur Berger
Prominent American composer and music educator who significantly contributed to 20th-century classical music composition and academic music development.
May 16 Studs Terkel
Pulitzer Prize-winning American oral historian, author, and broadcaster known for his in-depth interviews documenting American social history.
May 17 Archibald Cox
Prominent American lawyer and legal scholar who played a crucial role in the Watergate investigation, serving as special prosecutor and challenging President Nixon's executive privilege.
May 18 Perry Como
Perry Como was a legendary American pop singer and television personality known for his smooth vocal style and numerous hit songs during the 1940s and 1950s.
May 18 John Crosby
John Crosby was a prominent American journalist and television critic who wrote for the New York Herald Tribune and significantly contributed to media commentary during mid-20th century.
May 22 Herbert C Brown
Herbert C. Brown was a renowned English-born American chemist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his groundbreaking work in organic synthesis and hydroboration. He made significant contributions to organic chemistry and was a distinguished professor at Purdue University.
May 24 Joan Hammond
Joan Hammond was a renowned New Zealand mezzo-soprano and opera singer who studied at the Sydney Conservatory and initially performed with the Sydney Philharmonic Orchestra before establishing her international classical music career.
May 25 Princess Deokhye
Princess Deokhye of Korea, the last princess of the Joseon Dynasty, known for her tragic life during the Japanese colonial period.
May 26 Jay Silverheels
Native American actor best known for playing Tonto alongside Clayton Moore in the iconic 'The Lone Ranger' television series from 1949 to 1957.
May 26 Janos Kadar
Communist leader of Hungary who ruled from 1956 to 1988, known for his pragmatic approach during the Cold War and implementing a more moderate form of socialism.
May 27 Sam Snead
Sam Snead was a legendary American professional golfer who dominated the sport in the mid-20th century, winning multiple major championships and being inducted into the Golf Hall of Fame in 1953.
May 28 Patrick White
Patrick White was an acclaimed Australian novelist who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1973. He was a significant literary figure known for works like 'The Tree of Man' and 'Voss'. White was also notable for being openly gay during a challenging historical period.
May 28 Roger Ikor
Roger Ikor was a French writer and educator who taught at the Sorbonne. He was recognized with prestigious literary awards including the Goncourt Prize in 1955.
May 30 Julius Axelrod
Renowned American biochemist who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his groundbreaking work in neurotransmitter research and drug metabolism.
May 30 Joseph Stein
Acclaimed American playwright best known for writing the book for the legendary musical 'Fiddler on the Roof'.
May 31 Chien-Shiung Wu
Renowned Chinese-American physicist who made groundbreaking contributions to nuclear physics and was often called the 'First Lady of Physics'.
May 31 Martin Schwarzschild
Prominent US astronomer who made significant contributions to understanding stellar evolution and structure.
May 31 Henry M. Jackson
American politician known for his significant role in national defense and social policy.