Famous people born on August 5th

August 5 has an unusually wide range of celebrated births, stretching from pioneering explorers and statesmen to writers, filmmakers, and elite athletes. The date gathers figures who changed how we imagine the world, how we tell stories, and how we compete at the highest level. Together, they reflect a blend of daring innovation, cultural influence, and public leadership across centuries.

Notable highlights

• Neil Armstrong (1930) - As Apollo 11 commander, he became the first person to walk on the Moon in 1969, a defining moment in space exploration.
• Guy de Maupassant (1850) - A master of the short story, he helped shape modern realist fiction with sharp social observation and twist endings.
• John Huston (1906) - An influential director whose career spanned classic Hollywood to late-century cinema, known for bold adaptations and noir storytelling.
• Wendell Berry (1934) - Poet and essayist whose work argues for stewardship of land and community, bridging literature with environmental ethics.
• Herb Brooks (1937) - Coached the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team to the "Miracle on Ice", a landmark upset that became sports legend.
• Patrick Ewing (1962) - A dominant NBA center and franchise cornerstone for the New York Knicks, central to the league's 1990s era.
• Anthony Edwards (2001) - A standout NBA guard whose explosive scoring and athleticism quickly made him a face of a new generation.
• Hun Sen (1952) - Cambodian statesman whose long tenure placed him among the most enduring political leaders of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
• Loni Anderson (1946) - Actress widely recognized for her role on "WKRP in Cincinnati", a signature sitcom of late-1970s television.
• Rick Derringer (1947) - Rock guitarist and producer associated with hit recordings and a long studio career that crossed multiple eras of American rock.

On this day

• 1583 - Humphrey Gilbert establishes a short-lived English colony at St. John's, Newfoundland, often cited as an early step in England's overseas expansion.
• 1861 - The U.S. government levies the first federal income tax to help fund the Civil War.
• 1936 - Jesse Owens wins the 100-meter final at the Berlin Olympics, a defining achievement of modern sports history.
• 1962 - Marilyn Monroe dies in Los Angeles, an event that reshaped the mythology of Hollywood stardom.
• 2012 - NASA's Curiosity rover lands on Mars, beginning a major new chapter in planetary exploration.