Famous people born on May 27th
May 27 brings together an unusually wide-ranging set of birthdays, spanning public service, diplomacy, literature, sport, and the arts. The date stands out for figures who shaped policy debates, redefined genres, and influenced popular culture on both sides of the Atlantic. From headline-making statesmen to boundary-pushing novelists and global entertainers, the roster reflects real breadth across eras and fields.
Notable highlights
- Hubert H. Humphrey (1911) - U.S. vice president whose Senate work and civil-rights advocacy helped reshape mid-20th-century Democratic politics.
- Henry A. Kissinger (1923) - Influential U.S. national security adviser and secretary of state associated with detente and the opening to China.
- Jamie Oliver (1975) - Celebrity chef who paired accessible recipes with high-profile campaigns around school meals and healthier eating.
- Sam Snead (1912) - Golf great whose longevity and record-setting PGA Tour wins made him a benchmark for excellence across decades.
- Andre Benjamin (1975) - Known as Andre 3000, helped expand hip-hop’s sonic palette and lyrical ambition with OutKast.
- Dashiell Hammett (1894) - Pioneer of hard-boiled crime fiction whose terse style helped define the modern detective story.
- John Cheever (1912) - Master of American suburbia whose stories blended wit, melancholy, and moral unease.
- Herman Wouk (1915) - Best-selling novelist of sweeping historical narratives, including World War II epics with meticulous research.
- Joseph Fiennes (1970) - Actor recognized for period dramas and intense character work on stage and screen.
- Julia Ward Howe (1819) - Activist and writer of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic", also prominent in abolitionist and women’s rights causes.
On this day
- 1937 - The Golden Gate Bridge opens to pedestrians in San Francisco, soon becoming one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks.
- 1941 - The German battleship Bismarck is sunk in the North Atlantic after a major pursuit during World War II.
- 1964 - Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister, dies in office, marking a major turning point in post-independence politics.
- 1999 - NATO airstrikes hit the Chinese embassy in Belgrade during the Kosovo conflict, triggering a major diplomatic crisis.