Famous people born on May 10th
May 10 brings together a remarkably varied group of innovators, performers, and public figures. The day spans fields from space exploration and global diplomacy to punk rock, football, and filmmaking. With 33 notable birthdays on this date, the roster reflects both cultural impact and intellectual range across centuries.
Notable highlights
- Ellen Ochoa (1958) - Became the first Hispanic woman in space and later directed NASA's Johnson Space Center.
- Bono (1960) - Frontman of U2 whose stadium-scale songwriting is matched by high-profile humanitarian advocacy.
- David Fincher (1962) - Precision-minded director known for psychologically tense, meticulously crafted modern thrillers.
- Sid Vicious (1957) - Sex Pistols bassist whose brief, chaotic career became a lasting symbol of punk's mythology.
- Fred Astaire (1899) - Redefined screen dance with effortless style, musicality, and camera-friendly choreography.
- Gustav Stresemann (1878) - German statesman who helped steer post-World War I European diplomacy and détente efforts.
- Dennis Bergkamp (1969) - Celebrated for sublime first touch and vision, becoming an Arsenal icon of the Premier League era.
- Karl Barth (1886) - Influential theologian whose writings reshaped 20th-century Protestant thought.
- Daniel Bell (1919) - Sociologist who popularized the idea of the "post-industrial" society and its cultural tensions.
- John Wilkes Booth (1838) - Stage actor remembered for assassinating U.S. President Abraham Lincoln in 1865.
On this day
- 1869 - The first transcontinental railroad in the United States is completed at Promontory Summit, Utah.
- 1940 - Germany invades Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, expanding World War II in Western Europe.
- 1994 - Nelson Mandela is inaugurated as President of South Africa, marking the formal start of a new democratic era.