Famous people and celebrities born in May 1901

Welcome to our dedicated page for celebrating the notable individuals born in May 1901! 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 Sterling Brown

  Sterling Allen Brown was an influential African American poet, folklorist, literary critic, and professor. He is best known for his poetry that captured the everyday lives and vernacular of Southern Black Americans, and for his significant contributions to the Harlem Renaissance and Black literary studies. [bio]

• May 1 Simon Kuznets

  Simon Kuznets was a Nobel Prize-winning economist who made groundbreaking contributions to economic growth theory and national income...

• May 1 Antal Szerb

  Antal Szerb was a distinguished Hungarian scholar, literary historian, and novelist known for his profound intellectual works and tragic...

• May 1 Heinz Roemheld

  Heinz Roemheld was a notable American pianist, composer, and conductor who made significant contributions to film and concert music during...

• May 3 Gino Cervi

  Renowned Italian actor who was famous for his stage and screen performances, particularly known for his role as Inspector Jules Maigret in...

• May 3 Philippe Parès
• May 5 Blind Willie McTell

  Legendary blues musician and singer known for his distinctive guitar style and influential recordings in the early blues genre.

• May 6 Albert Decaris

  Albert Decaris was a renowned French artist and engraver known for his exceptional printmaking skills and contributions to 20th-century...

• May 7 Gary Cooper

  Gary Cooper was an American film actor known for his understated acting style and strong, silent screen presence. He appeared in more than 100 films, starring in classic westerns, dramas, and war movies. Cooper won two Academy Awards for Best Actor and became an icon of American cinema during Hollywood’s Golden Age. [bio]

• May 7 Marcel Poot

  Influential Belgian composer and music historian who served as director of the Brussels Conservatory from 1949 to 1966.

• May 8 Turkey Stearnes

  Legendary Negro League baseball player known for his exceptional hitting skills and playing primarily for the Detroit Stars.

• May 10 John Desmond Bernal

  A pioneering British scientist who made groundbreaking contributions to X-ray crystallography and molecular biology, significantly advancing...

• May 10 Max Lorenz

  A renowned German heldentenor who was celebrated for his exceptional performances in Wagnerian operas, particularly known for his powerful...

• May 11 Rose Ausländer

  A prominent Jewish poet who survived the Holocaust and wrote powerful poetry reflecting her traumatic experiences.

• May 12 Jean Thibaud (physicist)
• May 14 Witold Pilecki

  A heroic Polish resistance fighter during World War II who voluntarily entered Auschwitz concentration camp to gather intelligence about...

• May 15 Luis Monti

  Renowned Argentine-Italian footballer who played as a midfielder and later became a successful soccer manager.

• May 18 Vincent Vigneaud

  Renowned American biochemist and Nobel Prize laureate who made significant contributions to academic sciences.

• May 18 Henri Sauguet

  French composer, musician, and critic known for his diverse musical compositions including operas, ballets, symphonies, concertos, chamber,...

• May 20 Max Euwe

  Max Euwe was a prominent Dutch chess grandmaster who became World Chess Champion in 1935, defeating Alexander Alekhine.

• May 21 Suzanne Lilar

  Prominent Belgian playwright and author who made significant contributions to literature and theater.

• May 22 Maurice J. Tobin

  Maurice J. Tobin was an influential American politician who served as the 6th United States Secretary of Labor and later as Governor of...

• May 24 José Nasazzi

  José Nasazzi was a legendary Uruguayan footballer and national team captain, known for his exceptional defensive skills and leadership...

• May 28 François Jaffré

  French World War I veteran and one of the last surviving soldiers from the conflict.

• May 30 Cornelia Otis Skinner

  Cornelia Otis Skinner was an American author, actress, and playwright, known for her humorous essays and solo stage performances, as well as her collaborations on historical biographies. [bio]