Famous people and celebrities born in May 1920

Welcome to our dedicated page for celebrating the notable individuals born in May 1920! 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 3 John Lewis
John Lewis was a renowned jazz pianist and composer, best known as a founding member of the Modern Jazz Quartet. He was a pioneering figure in cool jazz and helped elevate jazz to a sophisticated art form.
May 5 Andrée Debar
French actress and film producer active in mid-20th century cinema, known for her contributions to French entertainment industry.
May 6 Kamisese Mara
Kamisese Mara was a pivotal Fijian political leader who served as the first Prime Minister of Fiji and played a crucial role in the country's independence and early governance.
May 8 Saul Bass
Legendary graphic designer and filmmaker renowned for creating iconic movie title sequences and posters for directors like Alfred Hitchcock and Martin Scorsese.
May 8 Sloan Wilson
American novelist best known for 'The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit', a seminal work critiquing corporate culture and post-war American society.
May 8 Michele Sindona
Controversial Italian-American banker involved in major financial scandals, including Vatican fund laundering and the murder of Giorgio Ambrosoli. His complex criminal activities led to significant legal consequences and multiple deaths.
May 8 Tom of Finland
Groundbreaking Finnish artist known for his highly influential homoerotic illustrations that challenged societal norms and became iconic in LGBTQ+ culture.
May 9 Richard Adams
Famous British author best known for the classic novel 'Watership Down', a beloved anthropomorphic tale about a group of rabbits seeking a new home.
May 11 Denver Pyle
American character actor best known for his roles in 'The Dukes of Hazzard' as Uncle Jesse and in numerous Western films and television series.
May 13 Gareth Morris
Renowned English flute player and music educator who significantly contributed to classical music performance and teaching during the mid-20th century.
May 15 Michel Audiard
Michel Audiard was a prominent French film director, screenwriter, and novelist known for his sharp wit and memorable dialogues in over 50 films. He was a significant figure in mid-20th century French cinema, creating memorable works like 'Love and the Frenchwoman' and contributing to the Inspector Maigret series.
May 15 Carlo Coccioli
Carlo Coccioli was an Italian novelist, dramatist, and theological expert renowned for his translations of ancient languages. He spent his later years in Mexico, where he passed away in Mexico City in 2003 at the age of 83.
May 16 Martine Carol
Prominent French actress of the 1950s, best known for her iconic role in 'Lola Montes' (1955) and her work in Hollywood. She was married to film director Christian-Jaque and was a significant figure in French cinema during her era.
May 16 Jacques François
French voice actor renowned for dubbing Gregory Peck's films into French, contributing significantly to international film localization in the mid-20th century.
May 17 Jacques Clancy
French theatre and film actor who was a distinguished member of the Comédie-Française, a prestigious national theater company in France.
May 18 Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II was the head of the Catholic Church from 1978 to 2005, known for his pivotal role in ending communist rule in Poland and his extensive global travels as pope. [bio]
May 19 Roger Vrigny
French novelist and playwright who founded a small theatre in 1950. He was awarded the Prix Femina in 1963 for 'La Nuit de Mougins' and received the Grand Prix de Littérature from the French Academy in 1989.
May 20 Betty Driver
Betty Driver was a beloved English actress, singer, and author best known for her long-running role in the television series Coronation Street as Betty Turpin.
May 20 Hephzibah Menuhin
Hephzibah Menuhin was a distinguished violinist and the sister of world-famous violinist Yehudi Menuhin, known for her exceptional musical talent and cultural contributions.
May 22 Thomas Gold
Renowned Austrian-American astrophysicist who made significant contributions to theoretical astronomy and planetary science. He was a professor at Cornell University and known for his innovative and sometimes controversial scientific theories.
May 23 Helen O'Connell
Helen O'Connell was a prominent American big band era singer and actress, known for her performances with Jimmy Dorsey's orchestra during the 1940s.
May 24 Robert Lynen
Robert Lynen was a promising French child actor who tragically became a victim of World War II. He was known for his roles in French cinema during the 1930s and was later involved in the French Resistance. Tragically, he was captured by the Nazis and deported to Germany, where he was ultimately executed.
May 25 Arthur Wint
Jamaican Olympic athlete and diplomat who won multiple medals in track and field, representing Jamaica internationally.
May 26 Peggy Lee
Legendary jazz and pop singer known for her distinctive voice and versatile career spanning music, film, and television. She was a Grammy-winning artist celebrated by Duke Ellington as 'the queen' and received an Oscar nomination for her acting.
May 28 Gaston Lenôtre
Gaston Lenôtre was a pioneering French pastry chef who transformed modern pastry-making and founded the renowned Lenôtre culinary school and catering empire, influencing generations of pastry professionals worldwide.
May 29 John Harsanyi
Hungarian-American economist and academic who won the Nobel Prize in Economics for his groundbreaking work in game theory and social choice theory.
May 30 Franklin J. Schaffner
Franklin J. Schaffner was an acclaimed American film and television director known for directing classic films like 'Patton' and 'Planet of the Apes', winning multiple awards including an Academy Award.
May 31 Edward Bennett Williams lawyer/team owner (Washington Redskins
Prominent Washington lawyer and sports team owner who owned the Washington Redskins and Baltimore Orioles, known for his influential legal practice and sports management.