Famous people born on May 29th
May 29 gathers an unusually wide mix of public voices, spanning political leadership, literary imagination, and global popular culture. The date connects revolutionary-era rhetoric to 20th-century statecraft, and it also threads through comedy, rock, film, and classical composition. From thinkers and judges to chart-topping musicians and Oscar-nominated performers, these birthdays highlight how influence can travel through many fields.
Notable highlights
- John F. Kennedy (1917) - The 35th U.S. president, remembered for the Cuban Missile Crisis and launching the Moon-shot challenge that shaped the Space Race.
- Gilbert K. Chesterton (1874) - A prolific English writer and critic whose Father Brown stories paired mystery with sharp philosophical wit.
- Bob Hope (1903) - A defining 20th-century entertainer whose long career blended vaudeville timing, film stardom, and decades of USO tours.
- Patrick Henry (1736) - A fiery American orator closely associated with "Give me liberty, or give me death!" and early revolutionary politics.
- Annette Bening (1958) - An acclaimed actress known for layered performances across drama and comedy, including roles in "American Beauty" and "The Kids Are All Right".
- Noel Gallagher (1967) - A chief songwriter of Oasis, crafting anthems that helped define 1990s Britpop and stadium rock.
- Melissa Etheridge (1961) - A Grammy- and Oscar-winning singer-songwriter noted for powerhouse rock vocals and frank, personal songwriting.
- Danny Elfman (1953) - A composer who shaped modern film sound with distinctive scores for directors like Tim Burton, including "Batman" and "Edward Scissorhands".
- Isaac Albeniz (1860) - A Spanish composer and virtuoso pianist whose works (especially "Iberia") helped color the modern idea of Spanish classical music.
- Charles II (1630) - The restored monarch of England, Scotland, and Ireland whose reign reopened theaters and reshaped politics after the Interregnum.
On this day
- 1453 - Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Empire, marking a decisive shift in Mediterranean power and the end of the Byzantine Empire.
- 1914 - The RMS Empress of Ireland sank in the Saint Lawrence River after a collision, becoming one of the deadliest maritime disasters in Canadian history.
- 1953 - Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the summit of Mount Everest, completing the first confirmed ascent of the world’s highest peak.
- 1985 - The Heysel Stadium disaster occurred in Brussels before the European Cup final, leading to fatalities and major changes in football safety policy.