Famous Birthdays on August 5

William Allen (1704-1780)

American loyalist, Chief Justice of the Province of Pennsylvania and Mayor of Philadelphia, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1711 Johan Lulofs, Dutch physicist, philosopher and astronomer, born in Zutphen, Netherlands (d. 1758)
1749 Thomas Lynch, American lawyer, signer of the US Declaration of Independence, born in Winyah, South Carolina (d. 1779)
1797 Friedrich August Kummer, German composer and musician, born in Meiningen (d. 1879)
1802 Niels H. Abel, Norwegian mathematician (Abel's Comparisons), born in Nedstrand, Norway (d. 1829)
1811 Ambroise Thomas, French opera composer (Mignon), and music professor, in Metz, France (d. 1896)
1813 Carnot Posey, American Confederate brigadier general, born in Wilkinson County, Mississippi (d. 1863)
1813 Ivar Aasen, Norwegian linguist and poet, born in Ørsten, Norway (d. 1896)
1815 Edward John Eyre, British explorer and Governor of Jamaica, born in Whipsnade, England (d. 1901)
1822 Johann Georg Herzog, German composer and organist, born in Hummendorf (d. 1909)
1827 Deodoro da Fonseca, Brazilian military officer and first President of Brazil (1889-91), born in Vila Madalena, Brazil (d. 1892)
1828 Giovanni Rossi, Italian composer, born in Borgo San Donnino, Duchy of Parma and Piacenza (now Italy) (d. 1886)
1828 Louisa of the Netherlands, Dutch queen consort of Sweden and Norway and princess of the Netherlands, born in the Hague (d. 1871)
1829 Heinrich Stiehl, German organist and composer, born in Lübeck (d. 1886)
1829 Milo Smith Hascall, American banker, real estate executive, and Brigadier General (Union Army), born in Le Roy, New York (d. 1904)
1833 Carola of Vasa, Queen consort of Saxony, born in Vienna (d. 1907)
1843 James Scott Skinner, Scottish composer and dancing master, born in Arbeadie, Scotland (d. 1927)
1850 Anton Simon, Russian composer, born in Paris, France (d. 1916)

Guy de Maupassant (1850-1893)

French author (Boule de Suif), born in Château de Miromesnil, France

1862 Joseph Merrick, "The Elephant Man", born in Leicester, England (d. 1890)
1864 Resurreccion Maria de Azkue, Basque priest, composer and first head of the Euskaltzaindia, born in Lekeitio, Spain (d. 1951)
1866 Alfred Holy, Czech composer and harpist, born in Oporto (d. 1948)
1866 Carl Dietrich Harries, German chemist (developed synthetic rubber), born in Luckenwalde, Germany (d. 1923)
1866 Harry Trott, Australian cricket all-rounder (24 Tests, 1 x 100, 4 x 50, HS 143, 29 wickets; Victoria CA), born in Melbourne, Australia (d. 1917)
1867 Jacob Ruppert Jr., American Baseball HOF executive (owner New York Yankees 1915-39; signed Babe Ruth; built Yankee Stadium), born in NYC, New York (d. 1939)
1868 Oskar Merikanto [Ala-Kanto], Finnish pianist, organist, and composer, born in Helsinki, Grand Duchy of Finland (d. 1924)
1872 Oswaldo Cruz, Brazilian physician and epidemiologist, born in São Luis do Paraitinga, Brazil (d. 1917)
1874 Horace Rawlins, English golfer (US Open 1895), born in Shanklin, Isle of Wight (d. 1935)
1876 Mary Ritter Beard, American historian (Woman as a Force in History), born in Indianapolis, Indiana (d. 1958)
1877 Tom Thomson, Canadian painter, born in Claremont, Ontario (d. 1917)
1880 Gertrude E Durden Rush, American composer, and playwright (Black Girls Burden), born in Navasota, Texas (d. 1962)

Hugh S. Johnson (1881-1942)

American head of the National Recovery Administration and member of FDR's Brain Trust, born in Fort Scott, Kansas

1882 Joe English, Irish-Flemish draftsman, painter, and soldier (designed WWI gravestones), born in Bruges, Belgium (d. 1918)
1883 Frank Nelson, English politician and civil servant (head of the Special Operations Executive, 1940-42), born in Gloucestershire (d. 1966)
1886 Óscar Esplá Spanish composer, born in Alicante, Spain (d. 1976)
1887 Reginald Owen, British actor (Mary Poppins, Sherlock Holmes), born in Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England (d. 1972)
1888 Victor Francen, Belgian actor (J'Acusse, San Antonio), born in Tienen, Flanders, Belgium (d. 1977)
1889 Conrad Aiken, American Pulitzer poet and writer (Ushant/Conversation), born in Savannah, Georgia (d. 1973)
1890 Erich Kleiber, Austrian-Argentine conductor (Teatro Colón, 1937-49; NBC Symphony, 1947-48), born in Vienna, Austria-Hungary (d. 1956)
1890 Hans Gál, Austrian-British composer (Die heilige Ente (The Sacred Duck)), born in Brunn am Gebirge, Austria (d. 1987)
1890 Naum Gabo [Pevsner], Russian-American sculptor (Stillife Flower), born in Bryans, Russian Empire (d. 1977)
1891 Donald Kerr, American actor (Carnival Lady, Devil Bat), born in Eagle Grove, Iowa (d. 1977)
1897 Aksel Larsen, Danish politician, founder of the Socialist People's Party, born in Brændekilde, Denmark (d. 1972)
1900 Bodi Rapp [Johanna Goetmakers], Dutch mezzo-soprano and teacher, born in Almelo, Netherlands (d. 1977)
1901 Claude Autant-Lara, French film director (Four Bags Full, Rouge et noir), born in Luzarches, Val-d'Oise, France (d. 2000)
1901 Juan Carlos Paz, Argentine composer, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina (d. 1972)
1902 Irene Rice Pereira, American abstract artist, born in Chelsea, Massachusetts (d. 1971)
1904 Kenneth Thimann, English American botanist (Balzan Prize), born in Ashford, England (d. 1997)
1906 Francis Walder [Francois Waldburger], Belgian author, born in Brussels, Belgium (d. 1997)
1906 John Huston, American director and writer (African Queen, Chinatown), born in Nevada, Missouri (d. 1987)
1906 Wassely Leontief, Russian American economist (Nobel 1973), born in Munich, Germany (d. 1999)
1908 Harold Holt, Australian politician, Prime Minister of Australia (1966-67); supported US in Vietnam, disappeared swimming, presumed drowned while PM, born in Stanmore, New South Wales (d. 1967)
1909 Ernestine "Tiny" Davis, American jazz vocalist and trumpeter (International Sweethearts of Rhythm), born in Memphis, Tennessee (d. 1994)
1910 Bruno Coquatrix, French songwriter, music impresario (Olympia Hall, Paris), and politician, born in Ronchin, France (d. 1979)
1910 Jacquetta Hawkes, English archaeologist/author (A Country), (d. 1996)
1910 Nan Gindele, US javelin thrower (World Record 1932-38), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1992)
1910 [Johan] Erik Lindegren, Swedish poet/librettist (Aniara), born in Luleå, Sweden (d. 1968)
1911 Robert Taylor, American actor (Waterloo Bridge, Quo Vadis, Death Valley Days), born in Filley, Nebraska (d. 1969)
1912 Abbé Pierre, French Catholic priest (d. 2007)
1914 Anita Colby, American model, author and actress (Mary of Scotland, Cover Girl, Pepsi Cola Playhouse), born in Washington, D.C. (d. 1992)
1914 David Brian, American actor (Accused of Murder, Dawn at Sorocco), born in NYC, New York (d. 1993)
1914 Stjepan Sulek, Croatian violinist and composer (Coriolan), born in Zagreb, Croatia (d. 1986)
1918 Betty Oliphant, British-Canadian ballerina, co-founded of National Ballet School of Canada, born in London, England (d. 2004)
1918 Tom Drake [Alfred Sinclair Alderdice], American actor (Meet Me In St. Louis; Warlock), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 1982)
1920 Selma Diamond, Canadian-American comedy writer (Your Show Of Shows), and actress (Night Court, 1984-85 - "Selma"), born in Montreal, Quebec (d. 1985)
1920 Sonny Montgomery, American politician (Rep-D-Mississippi, 1967-97), born in Meridian, Mississippi (d. 2006)
1921 Nazar Mohammad, Pakistani cricket batsman (5 Tests, 1 x 100 Pakistan's 1st centurion), born in Lahore, Pakistan (d. 1996)
1922 L. Tom Perry, American religious leader (LDS apostle), born in Logan, Utah (d. 2015)
1923 Devan Nair, Singaporean politician, President of Singapore (1981-85), born in Melaka (d. 2005)
1923 Richard Kleindienst, American attorney general during Watergate scandal, born in Winslow, Arizona (1972)
1924 Billie Hayes [Brosch], American stage, film, and television actress Li'l Abner - "Mammy Yokum"; Witchiepoo), born in town of DuQuoin, Illinois (d. 2021)
1925 Cor Witschge, Dutch actor (Pipo the Clown), born in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands (d. 1991)
1926 Betsy Jolas, French-American composer, born in Paris, France
1926 Jeri Southern [Genevieve Hering], American jazz singer ("You Better Go Now"; "Joey"), and pianist, born in Royal, Nebraska (d. 1991)
1927 Gunnar Bucht, Swedish composer, born in Stocksund, Sweden
1930 Michal Kováč, 1st President of Slovakia (1993-98), born in Ľubiša, Czechoslovakia (d. 2016)

Neil Armstrong (1930-2012)

American X-15 pilot and astronaut - 1st man on the Moon (Gemini 8, Apollo 11), born in Wapakoneta Ohio,

1931 Billy Bingham, Irish soccer forward (56 caps Northern Ireland; Sunderland, Luton Town, Everton) and manager (Northern Ireland, Greece, Everton), born in Belfast, Northern Ireland (d. 2022)
1932 Sister Vince Otto, American mental health activist (Vince)
1932 Tera de Marez Oyens, Dutch composer, born in Velsen, Netherlands (d. 1996)
1933 Joan Weldon, American actress (So This is Love, Them), born in San Francisco, California
1934 Vern Gosdin, American country singer ("Set 'Em Up Joe"), born in Woodland, Alabama (d. 2009)
1934 Wendell Berry, American poet, writer and farmer, born in Henry County, Kentucky
1935 John McCartan, American ice hockey player (Olympic gold 1960), born in Saint Paul, Minnesota
1935 John Saxon, American actor (Bees, Nightmare on Elm St, Electric Horseman), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 2020)
1935 Zakes Mokae, actor (Comedians), born in Johannesburg, South Africa
1936 John Dancy, American newscaster (Prime Time Sunday), born in Jackson, Texas (d. 2021)
1937 Alan Howard, English theater and film actor (Royal Shakespeare Company), born in London, England (d. 2015)
1937 Brian G. Marsden, British astronomer (Smithsonian's Minor Planet Center (MPC), 1978-2006), born in Cambridge, England (d. 2010)

Herb Brooks (1937-2003)

American ice hockey coach (Olympic gold Medal 1980), born in Saint Paul, Minnesota

1938 Hayes Jones, American athlete (Olympic gold 110m hurdles 1964), born in Sturksville, Mississippi
1939 Irene, Princess of Netherlands, born at Soestdijk Palace, Baarn, Netherlands
1941 Airto Moreira, Brazilian jazz drummer and percussionist (Quarteto Novo, Miles Davis, Return to Forever), born in Itaiópolis, Brazil
1941 Jan Gomola, Polish soccer goalkeeper (7 caps; Górnik Zabrze), born in Ustron, Poland (d. 2022)
1941 Leonid Kizim, Soviet cosmonaut (Soyuz T-3, T-10, T-15), born in rasnyi Lyman, Soviet Union (d. 2010)
1942 Chuck Day (also known as "Bing" Day), American session guitarist, bassist and blues performer, born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2008)
1942 Rick Huxley, British rock guitarist (Dave Clark Five - "Glad All Over"), born in Dartford, England (d. 2013)
1943 Sammi Smith, American country music singer ("Help Me Make It Through The Night"), born in Orange County, California (d. 2005)
1943 Sandy Pearlman, American lyricist; music producer, artist manager (Blue Öyster Cult), music journalist and record company executive, born in Rockaway, Queens, New York City (d. 2016)
1945 Ja'net Dubois, American actress (Good Times, Beverly Hill 90210), born in Brooklyn, New York
1945 Jo Collins, American Playboy playmate (Dec, 1964, Playmate of the Year 1965), born in Lebanon, Oregon
1945 Loni Anderson, American actress (WKRP in Cincinnati - "Jennifer"), born in Saint Paul, Minnesota
1946 Erika Slezak, American actress (One Life to Live - "Viki"), born in Hollywood, California
1946 Gary Beban, American College Football Hall of Fame quarterback (Heisman Trophy 1967, UCLA: NFL: Washington Redskins), born in San Francisco, California
1946 Rick van der Linden, Dutch keyboardist (Ekseption)
1946 Ron Silliman, American poet (The Alphabet), born in Pasco,Washington
1947 Bernie Carbo, American MLB player, born in Detroit, Michigan
1947 Greg Leskiw, Canadian guitarist (The Guess Who, 1970-72), born in Winnipeg, Manitoba
1947 Rick Derringer [Zehringer], American guitarist, songwriter (The McCoys - "Hang On Sloopy"; solo - "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo".), and producer (Edgar Winter; Johnny Winter; Weird Al Yankovic), born in Fort Recovery, Ohio
1947 Willie Weeks, American session and touring bass player (George Harrison; Vince Gill; Wynonna Judd; David Bowie; Eric Clapton), born in Salemburg, North Carolina
1948 Ray Clemence MBE, English soccer goalkeeper (England 61 caps, Liverpool, Tottenham), born in Skegness, Lincolnshire (d. 2020)
1950 Holly Palance, American actress (Thorn Birds, Ripley's Believe It), born in Los Angeles, California
1950 Rosi Mittermaier, German alpine skier (Olympic gold downhill/slalom 1976), born in Munich, Germany (d. 2023)
1951 Jemeel Moondoc, American improvisational jazz saxophonist (Ensemble Muntu; Jus Grew Orchestra), born in Chicago, Illinois
1951 John Jarratt, Australian actor, director and producer (Picnic at Hanging Rock), born in Wollongong, Australia
1952 Hun Sen, Cambodian politician, Prime Minister of Cambodia 1985-), born in Kampong Cham, Cambodia
1953 Samantha Sang [Cheryl Lau Sang], Australian pop singer (Emotion), born in Melbourne
1955 Eddie "Fingers" Ojeda, American rock guitarist and songwriter (Twisted Sister; Scarecrow), born in NYC, New York
1956 Ferdi Bolland, Dutch singer/guitarist (Bolland & Bolland)

Maureen McCormick (66 years old)

1956 American actress (Marcia-Brady Bunch), born in Encino, California

1957 Pavel V. Vinogradov, Russian cosmonaut (Soyuz TM-26, Commander of the International Space Station 2013), born in Magadan, Soviet Union
1959 Pete Burns, English singer (Dead or Alive - "Spin Me Round"), born in Bebington (d. 2016)
1960 Seth Swirsky, American pop songwriter ("Tell It To My Heart"), born in Connecticut
1961 Athula Samarasekera, Sri Lankan cricketer and coach (Sri Lankan batsman), born in Galle, Sri Lanka
1961 Mark O'Connor, American violinist and composer of classical, jazz and bluegrass music (Appalachian Journey), born in Seattle, Washington
1961 Pat Smear [Georg Ruthenberg], American rock guitarist (Foo Fighters - "Everlong"; "My Hero"), born in West Los Angeles, California
1961 [Julie] Tawny Kitaen, American actress (Bachelor Party; Whitesnake videos; Witchboard), born in San Diego, California (d. 2021)
1962 Eric Geboers, Belgian motocross racer (5 x world champion; 39 x career Grand Prix wins), born in Neerpelt, Belgium (d. 2018)
1962 Otis Thorpe, American NBA forward. 1984-2001 (Sacramento Kings. Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons, and 5 other teams), born in Boynton Beach Florida

Patrick Ewing (60 years old)

1962 Jamaican-American NBA center, 1985-2002, 11X All-Star (NY Knicks, and 2 other teams; Olympic gold 1992), and collegiate coach (Georgetown, 2017-present), born in Kingston, Jamaica

1962 Richard De Groen, New Zealand cricketer (NZ medium pacer), born in Otorohonga, New Zealand
1962 William Roberts, American NFL guard, 1984-97 (NY Jets; New England Patriots; NY Giants), born in Miami, Florida
1963 James Wilder, American actor (Scorchers, Zombie High, Murder 1), born in Cleveland, Ohio
1963 Mike Nocito, American rocker (Johnny Hates Jazz), born in Wiesbaden, West Germany

Adam Yauch (1964-2012)

American rap-rock vocalist (Beastie Boys -"(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)"), born in Brooklyn, New York

1965 Jeff Coffin, American musician (Bela Fleck & the Flecktones; Dave Matthews Band), born in Massachusetts
1965 M V Sridhar, Indian cricketer (scored 366 for Hyderabad v Andhra Pradesh 1994), born in Vijayawada, India (d. 2017)
1965 Mark Labbett, English TV personality ('The Beast' on The Chaser), born in Tiverton, England
1965 Motoi Sakuraba, Japanese keyboardist, and progressive rock and video game music composer, born in Akita Prefecture, Japan
1966 Jonathan Silverman, American actor (Brighton Beach Memoirs, Single Guy), born in Los Angeles, California
1967 Mike Fox, American NFL defensive end (Carolina Panthers), born in Akron, Ohio

Reid Hoffman (55 years old)

1967 American entrepreneur (co-founder of LinkedIn), born in Stanford, California

1968 Colin McRae, Scottish rally driver (World Rally Championship 1995), born in Lanark, Scotland (d. 2007)
1968 Funkmaster Flex [Aston George Taylor Jr], American hip hop DJ, born in The Bronx, New York
1968 John Olerud, American MLB infielder (Toronto Blue Jays), born in Seattle, Washington

Marine Le Pen (54 years old)

1968 French politician (President of the National Front Party), born in Neuilly-sur-Seine

1968 Oleg Luzhny, Ukrainian footballer
1968 Terri Clark, Canadian country singer-songwriter, and guitarist, born in Montreal, Quebec
1968 Tokimitsu Ishizawa, Japanese professional wrestler
1969 Kenny Irwin Jr., American auto racer (USAC National Midget Champion 1996; NASCAR 87 starts), born in Indianapolis, Indiana (d. 2000)
1969 Vasbert Conniel Drakes, cricketer (fast bowler, WI ODI 1995)
1969 Venkatesh Prasad, Indian cricketer (consistent Indian Test pace bowler), born in Bangalore, India
1970 James Gunn, American filmmaker (Guardians of the Galaxy), born in St Louis, Missouri
1971 "Evil" Jared Hasselhoff [Hennegan], American rock bassist (Bloodhound Gang), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1971 Valeri Karpov, Russian RSL and NHL hockey left wing, 1992-2005 (Anaheim Mighty Ducks, 1994-97), born in Chelyabinsk, Russia
1972 Aaqib Javed, Pakistani cricketer and pace bowler (1989-98), born in Sheikhupura, Pakistan
1972 Christian Olde Wolbers, Belgian musician (Fear Factory)
1972 Ikuto Hidaka, Japanese professional wrestler
1972 John Wasdin, American baseball pitcher, 1997-2009 (Oakland A's, Boston Red Sox, 5 other MLB and 2 Japanese teams), born in Ft Belvoir, Virginia
1973 Sanwar Hossain, Bangladeshi cricketer
1973 Sean Sherk, American mixed martial artist
1974 Antoine Sibierski, French footballer (Newcastle United), born in Lille, France
1974 Frankie Hejduk, American soccer defender (Olympic gold 1996), born in La Mesa, California
1974 Kajol Mukherjee, Indian actress (Fanaa, My Name Is Khan), born in Mumbai, Maharashtra
1975 Antony Cotton, English actor (Coronation Street), born in Bury, England
1975 Eicca Toppinen, Finnish cellist (Apocalyptica), born in, Vantaa, Finland
1975 Stéphanie Szostak, French-American Actress (Dinner for Schmucks; A Million Little Things), born in Paris, France
1976 Kwon Sang-woo, South Korean actor (Stairway to Heaven), born in Daejeon, South Korea
1976 Marians Pahars, Latvian footballer, born in Chornobai, Ukraine
1977 Eric Hinske, American baseball utility and coach (AL Rookie of the Year 2002; 3-time WS champion), born in Menasha, Wisconsin
1977 Mark Mulder, American baseball player (Oakland Athletics,St. Louis Cardinals), born in South Holland, Illinois
1978 Kim Gevaert, Belgian sprinter, born in Leuven, Belgium
1978 Nektaria Karantzi, Greek singer (Byzantine Chant)
1979 David Healy, Northern Irish footballer and manager (Linfield), born in Killyleagh, County Down
1980 Ali Umar, Maldivian footballer, born in Malé, Maldives
1980 Jason Čulina, Australian soccer player
1980 Sophie Winkleman, English actress, born in London, England
1980 Wayne Bridge, English premier league footballer, born in Southampton, England
1981 Alester Maregwede, Zimbabwean cricketer
1981 Carl Crawford, American baseball player, born in Houston, Texas
1981 Cory Williams, American internet celebrity (The Mean Kitty Song), born in Merced, California
1981 Erik Guay, Canadian alpine skier
1981 Jesse Williams, American actor (Grey's Anatomy), director and activist, born in Chicago, Illinois
1981 Kō Shibasaki, Japanese singer and actress (47 Ronin), born in Toshima, Japan
1981 Rachel Scott, American murder victim (d. 1999)
1981 Ricky Kej, Indian composer (Winds of Samsara), born in North Carolina
1982 LoLo Jones, American track and field athlete and bobsledder,born in Des Moines, Iowa