Famous people and celebrities born in May 1940

Welcome to our dedicated page for celebrating the notable individuals born in May 1940! 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 1 John Wheeler
Prominent American theoretical physicist who made significant contributions to quantum mechanics and nuclear physics, known for his work on black holes and quantum theory.
May 1 Elsa Peretti
Renowned Italian jewelry designer who revolutionized modern jewelry design with her minimalist and organic aesthetic, working extensively with Tiffany & Co.
May 3 Conny Plank
Influential German music producer and electronic music pioneer known for his groundbreaking work with bands like Cluster and Kraftwerk, significantly shaping the development of experimental and electronic music in the 1970s and 1980s.
May 4 Robin Cook
Renowned American physician and bestselling medical thriller novelist known for pioneering the medical suspense genre with books like 'Coma'.
May 5 Lance Henriksen
Lance Henriksen is a prolific American actor renowned for his distinctive voice and memorable roles in science fiction films like 'Aliens' and 'The Terminator', where he often portrayed intense, complex characters.
May 5 Michael Lindsay-Hogg
Michael Lindsay-Hogg is an accomplished American film and television director known for his work in music documentaries and directing notable Beatles-related films.
May 8 Ricky Nelson
Iconic American rock and roll singer, actor, and musician who rose to fame through the TV show 'The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet' and later became a successful rock musician.
May 8 Emilio Delgado
Beloved actor best known for his long-running role as Luis on the children's educational television series Sesame Street, which made him a cultural icon for generations of children.
May 8 Peter Benchley
Renowned American author and screenwriter best known for writing 'Jaws', a novel that was adapted into the iconic Steven Spielberg film that revolutionized the thriller genre.
May 9 James L Brooks
Renowned American film and television producer, director, and screenwriter known for critically acclaimed works like 'Broadcast News', 'Terms of Endearment', and 'As Good as It Gets'.
May 10 Wayne Dyer
American motivational speaker and author of self-help. his 1976 book, your erroneous areas (1976), was sold in an estimated 35,000,000 copies. it is one the most popular books ever. he was married three more times and had eight kids.
May 12 Norman Whitfield
Legendary Motown songwriter and record producer who wrote numerous hit songs for The Temptations and other soul artists, significantly contributing to the label's musical legacy.
May 15 Lainie Kazan
Renowned American actress and singer known for her comedic roles in film and her successful musical career in nightclubs and Broadway.
May 15 Ira Einhorn
Controversial Philadelphia counterculture figure who became infamous for murdering his girlfriend and later being convicted of first-degree murder after a complex international manhunt.
May 15 Roger Ailes
Influential media executive who transformed Fox News into a powerful conservative media platform, later resigned amid sexual harassment allegations.
May 17 Adel Imam
Adel Imam is a renowned Egyptian comedian and actor who has been a prominent figure in Middle Eastern cinema and television for decades, known for his satirical comedy and social commentary.
May 17 Alan Kay
Alan Kay is a pioneering computer scientist who played a crucial role in developing object-oriented programming and graphical user interfaces, significantly influencing modern computing.
May 19 Frank Lorenzo
Controversial American airline industry executive who dramatically transformed airline business models through aggressive corporate strategies. He was known for radical restructuring, union confrontations, and creating low-cost airline models. His approach fundamentally reshaped the airline industry's economic landscape.
May 20 Stan Mikita
Hockey Hall of Fame legend who played his entire 22-year career with the Chicago Blackhawks, considered one of the greatest centers in NHL history.
May 20 Sadaharu Oh
Legendary Japanese baseball player and manager who holds the world record for most home runs in professional baseball history with 868 career home runs.
May 22 Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw was a Nobel Prize-winning Irish playwright, literary critic, and political activist renowned for his sharp wit, social commentary, and influential works like 'Pygmalion'.
May 24 Joseph Brodsky
Joseph Brodsky was a renowned Russian-American poet, essayist, and translator who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1987. He was a significant figure in 20th-century poetry, known for his profound philosophical works and his resistance to Soviet oppression. Brodsky was exiled from the Soviet Union in 1972 and later became a professor at several American universities.
May 25 Nobuyoshi Araki
Nobuyoshi Araki is a renowned Japanese photographer known for his provocative and controversial works that explore themes of sexuality, intimacy, and Japanese culture through a unique and often explicit photographic style.
May 26 Levon Helm
Legendary drummer and founding member of The Band, a pioneering rock group known for their influential Americana and roots music. He was a Grammy Award winner and critically acclaimed musician who also appeared in films.
May 29 Farooq Leghari
Farooq Leghari was the 8th President of Pakistan, serving from 1993 to 1998. He was a prominent Pakistani politician who played a significant role in the country's political landscape during the 1990s.
May 29 Taihō Kōki
Taihō Kōki was a legendary Japanese sumo wrestler who became the 48th yokozuna, the highest rank in professional sumo. He was one of the most famous and respected sumo wrestlers in history, known for his exceptional skill and dominance in the sport.