• 0121 - Antonius Marcus Aurelius, [Marcus A Verus], Emperor of Rome (161-180)
• 1319 - Jean II, the Good, king of France (1350-64)
• 1538 - Giovanni P Lomazzo, Italian writer/poet (Trattato)
• 1564 - William Shakespeare, Stratford-on-Avon England, playwright (Hamlet)
• 1567 - Nicolas Forme, composer
• 1573 - Marie de'Medici, Queen of France
• 1603 - Francesco Nigetti, composer
• 1637 - Philip J van Lichtenbergh, Governor of Suriname, baptized
• 1648 - Pedro II, King of Portugal (1683-1706)
• 1711 - David Hume, English empiricist/philosopher (Treatise of Human Nature)
• 1718 - Esek Hopkins, US, 1st commander-in-chief (US Navy)
• 1726 - Pasquale Paoli, Corsican freedom fighter
• 1776 - Joan M Kemper, Dutch lawyer (designed civil code law book)
• 1782 - Maria Amalia of Bourbon-Sicily, wife of Louis Phillip of Austria
• 1785 - John James Audubon, Haiti, bird watcher/artist
• 1787 - Ludwig Uhland, writer
• 1796 - Auguste-Matthieu Panseron, composer
• 1798 - Ferdinand EugŠne Delacroix, French painter/lithograph/etcher (Journal)
• 1806 - Ludwig Friedrich Hetsch, composer
• 1808 - Martha Finley, children's book author
• 1812 - Alfred Krupp, German arms merchant
• 1820 - Alice Cary, Cincinnati, American poet (Cincinnati Sentinel)
• 1822 - Frederick Law Olmsted, architect/writer (designed Central Park)
• 1822 - Jan Albert van Eyken, composer/organist
• 1827 - Charles Edward Hovey, Bvt Major General (Union volunteers)
• 1834 - Artemus Ward, (Charles Farrar Browne), humorist
• 1834 - Horatio Richmond Palmer, composer
• 1836 - Erminnie Adelle Platt, US, ethnologist (Iriquois-English Dictionary)
• 1839 - Cyrus Hamblin, Bvt Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1867
• 1841 - Wilhelm Scherer, German literature historian
• 1860 - Alphonse M A J Ari‰ns, Dutch pastor
• 1863 - Arno Holz, writer
• 1863 - Charles Haslewood Shannon, lithographer/painter
• 1868 - Harold Sidney Harmsworth, 1st Viscount Rothermere/Newspaper publisher
• 1868 - Robert Herrick, US writer (Common lot)
• 1873 - Otto zur Linde, German author (Charon)
• 1874 - J H "Biddy" Anderson, cricketer (one Test S Africa v Australia 1902)
• 1875 - Syngman Rhee, South Korea, pres of South Korea (1948-60) [or Mar 26]
• 1878 - Ethel Griffies, actress (Billy Liar, Birds, We Live Again)
• 1879 - Owen Williams Richardson, England, physicist (Nobel 1928)
• 1880 - Mikhail Fokine, Russia, choreographer/founder of modern dance
• 1884 - Harry Sothern, actor (Dr Huer-Buck Rogers)
• 1886 - Ma Rainey, [Gertrude Pridgett], "Mother of the Blues", US blues singer
• 1888 - Aleksandr Mikhailov, USSR, astronomer
• 1889 - Ludwig Wittgenstein, Austria, philosopher (Tractatus)
• 1890 - Edgar "E Livingstone" Kennedy, US actor/director (My Old Dutch)
• 1893 - Anita Loos, author (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes)
• 1894 - Rudolf Hess, Hitler's Deputy Fhrer, only prisoner at Spandau
• 1897 - Olga Chekova, Russia, actress (Italian Strawhat, Cry of the Children)
• 1898 - Edward PF Eagan, Denver, boxer (Oly-gold-20)/bobsledder (Oly-gold-32)
• 1898 - John Grierson, documentary film maker
• 1898 - Vicente Aleixandre, Spain, writer (Ambito, Bird of Paper, Nobel 1977)
• 1899 - Guinn "Big Boy" Williams, TX, actor (Hoedown, Country Fair, Blackmail)
• 1900 - Charles Richter, Ohio, Earthquakes seismologist (Richter scale)
• 1900 - Douglas Sirk, director (Zu Neuen Ufern, Boefje)
• 1900 - James Sutherland, English literature scholar/actor (Rob Roy 1953)
• 1903 - Geoffrey Worthington, Air vice-marshall
• 1903 - Niven Busch, US screenwriter (Postman Always Rings Twice)
• 1904 - Paul E "Cardinal" Leger, archbishop (Montreal)
• 1904 - William "Count" Basie, jazz pianist (Policy Man, Blazing Saddles)
• 1905 - Charles K Feldman, [Gould], NYC, producer (Casino Royale)
• 1905 - Denis O'Dea, Dublin, actor (Esther & the King, Treasure Island)
• 1905 - Jean Vigo, France, actor/director (Zero For Conduct, L'Atlante)
• 1906 - Gracie Allen, Mrs George Burns, comedienne (George Burns Show)
• 1906 - Leopold Spinner, composer
• 1907 - Theun de Vries, writer (February; PC Hooft prize 1981)
• 1909 - Richard Howorth, cricketer (English all-rounder, three county doubles)
• 1910 - Erland von Koch, composer
• 1910 - Ernst Tittel, composer
• 1910 - Johan Doorn, Dutch journalist/resistance fighter (Orange Newspaper)
• 1910 - Tomoyuki Tanaka, director (Godzilla)
• 1911 - Marianne Hoppe, Rostock Germany (Bei Thea, Liebrauen)
• 1912 - A[lfred] E[lton] van Vogt, Canada, sci-fi author (Wizard of Linn)
• 1914 - Bernard Malamud, US, novelist (Fixer, Natural, Pulitizer 1967)
• 1914 - Charlie Chester, British comedian (Never Say Die)
• 1914 - Horace Leonard Gold, Sci-Fi writer/editor
• 1914 - James William Rouse, US builder (shopping malls/Columbia, Maryland)
• 1914 - Wilfred Howard Mellers, composer
• 1916 - Arnoldus Christian Vlok van Wyk, composer
• 1916 - Morris L West, Australia, novelist (Shoes of the Fisherman)
• 1917 - I[eoh] M[ing] Pei, Canton, China, architect (1961 Brunner Prize)
• 1917 - Sal "The Barber" Maglie, pitcher (NY Giants, 8th best won-lost pct)
• 1918 - Fanny Blankers-Koen, Holland, 100m/200m dash, hurdler (Olym-gold-1948)
• 1918 - Jack Morpurgo, American Literature scholar (Leeds University)
• 1918 - Stafford Repp, Calif, actor (Chief O'Hara-Batman, Plunder Road)
• 1920 - Juan C Lampe, Aruba, pianist/composer
• 1921 - Harry Knutton, Maj-Gen/dir-general (London City & Guilds Institute)
• 1921 - Jimmy Giuffre, jazz musician
• 1921 - Margaret Gowing, professor (history, science)
• 1922 - James Holt, medieval historian
• 1922 - Jeanne Sauv‚, 1st female Governor-General (Canada, 1984-90)
• 1922 - Margaret Scott, founder (Australian Ballet School)
• 1922 - Mike Kellin, Hartford Ct, actor (Honestly Celeste, Fitz & Bones)
• 1922 - Paul-Andre Gaillard, composer
• 1922 - Pol Bury, Belgian sculptor
• 1923 - Oliver Millar, Surveyor (Queen's Pictures)
• 1924 - Russell Nype, Zion Ill, singer/actor (Burton Farley-Dorothy)
• 1926 - Anton PO Ekstr”m, Swedish writer (Summer Dances)
• 1926 - David Coleman, sports commentator
• 1926 - Michael Joughin, CEO (Scottish Hydro-Electric)
• 1926 - Oldrich Frantisek Korte, composer
• 1926 - Preston "Bob" Tisch, NFL co-owner (NY Giants)
• 1927 - Anne McLaren, biologist/zoologist/actress (Things to Come)
• 1927 - Jack Douglas, comedian (My Brother Was an Only Child, Jack Paar Show)
• 1928 - Gordon Downey, British Comptroller General/Reader Rep (Independent)
• 1928 - Hertha Kr„ftner, writer
• 1930 - Derek Waring, actor (Barnacle Bill, Arthur-Heart of the Country)
• 1930 - Justin Gosling, principal (St Edmund Hall Oxford)
• 1930 - Roger Moens, Belgium, 800m runner (Olympic-silver-1960)
• 1933 - Carol Burnett, San Antonio Tx, comedian/actress (Annie, 4 Seasons)
• 1934 - J Micheal McCloskey, environmentalist/chairman (Sierra Club)
• 1936 - Edward Cazalet, British High Court Judge
• 1937 - Robert Boozer, Omaha Neb, basketball player (Olympic-gold-1960)
• 1938 - Duane Eddy, Phoenix, Az, country singer (Peter Gunn, Cannonball)
• 1938 - Maurice Williams, rocker
• 1938 - Willie Wood, bowler
• 1939 - Roger Buckley, British High Court Judge
• 1940 - Giorgio Moroder, composer (Let it Ride, Cat People, Top Gun)
• 1941 - John Battle, MP
• 1942 - Bobby Rydell, Phila Pa, rock singer (Wild One, Bye Bye Birdie)
• 1942 - Claudine Auger, Paris France, Miss France (1958)/actress (Thunderball)
• 1942 - Vitali Andreyevich Grishchenko, Russia, cosmonaut
• 1943 - Claudine Auger, Miss France (1958)/actress (Thunderball)
• 1943 - Gary Wright, singer, dream weaver (Spooky Tooth-It's All About)
• 1944 - Bruce Johnston, US pop musician (Beach Boys-God Only Knows) [or 6/24]
• 1944 - David O'B Martin, (Rep-R-NY, 1981- )
• 1944 - Martha Rockwell, Providence RI, skier (Mount Washington)
• 1945 - Giorgio Moroder, producer/singer/songwriter (150 gold discs)
• 1945 - V K Ramaswamy, cricketer (Indian Test umpire stood in 1996 World Cup)
• 1947 - Donna Elizabeth De Varona, Greenwich Ct, swimmer (Olympic-2 gold-64)
• 1947 - Gervase Frank Ashworth Jackson-Stops, architectural adviser
• 1948 - Boyd Matson, TV host/correspondent (National Geographic Explorer)
• 1948 - Gerry Sikorski, (Rep-D-MN, 1983- )
• 1948 - Stevie Nicks, Calif, rocker/druggie (Fleetwood Mac-Rumours)
• 1949 - Jimmy Hall, rocker (Wet Willie)
• 1950 - Howard "Leon" Reeder, rock guitarist (Champaign)
• 1950 - Peter Schaufuss, director of ballet (Deutsche Opera Berlin)
• 1951 - Lynne Jones, MP
• 1952 - Popo Simon Molefe, secretary-general (South Africa UDF)
• 1956 - Koo Stark, [Kathleen Dee-Anne], photographer/actress (Emily)
• 1958 - Giancarlo Esposito, actor (Bob Roberts, School Daze, King of NY)
• 1958 - Johnny "Earl of" Dumfries, racing driver
• 1959 - Ann O'Neill, Toowoomba QLD, golfer (1989 Downs District Champ)
• 1960 - Roger Taylor, rock drummer (Duran Duran-Hungry Like the Wolf)
• 1961 - Albert Lawrence, Jamaica, 4X100m relayer (Olympic-silver-1984)
• 1961 - Joan Chen, [Chen Chong], Shanghai China, actress (Heaven & Earth)
• 1961 - Nancy Scranton, Centralia IL, golfer (1991 du Maurier Ltd Classic)
• 1962 - Graham "Skin" Skinner, rocker (Hipsway)
• 1962 - Michael Damian, San Diego, singer (Rock on)/actor (Young & Restless)
• 1963 - Bill Wennington, NBA center (Chicago Bulls)
• 1963 - Michael Damian, actor/singer (Joseph & Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat)
• 1963 - Thomas Searle, hockey defenseman (Team Austria 1998)
• 1964 - Tod Bass, LA Calif, actor (Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In)
• 1966 - Andrea Temesvari, Budapest Hungary, tennis star (1985 US Clay Courts)
• 1967 - Klaus Merk, Augsburg GER, hockey goaltender (Team Germany 1998)
• 1967 - Matt Peterson, Chicago IL, Nike golfer (1992 Hawkeye Open-7th)
• 1968 - Ahmed Elmaghraby, Suez Egypt, US field hockey forward (Olympics-96)
• 1971 - Ryan Yarborough, NFL wide receiver (Baltimore Ravens, NY Jets)
• 1972 - Francisco Cordova, Veracruz Mexico, pitcher (Pitts Pirates)
• 1972 - Marco Rivera, NFL/WLAF guard (Scot Claymores, GB Packers-Superbowl 31)
• 1972 - Natrone Means, NFL running back (SD Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars)
• 1973 - Damien Munoz, Miss USA-Colorado (1997)
• 1973 - Mark Davis, NBA guard/forward (Phila 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves)
• 1973 - Tracy Kathleen Hayes, Wheaton Ill, Miss America (Illinois-5th-1996)
• 1975 - Jabbar Threats, defensive end (Jacksonville Jaguars)
• 1975 - Trudi Ferguson, Miss Universe-Jamaica (1996)
• 1976 - Sarah Tueting, ice hockey goalie (USA, Oly-98)
• 1979 - Sean Fox, actor (3 Ninjas Kick Back, Calendar Girl)
• 1980 - Jordana Brewster, Panama, actress (Nikki Graves-As the World Turns)
• 1980 - Marne Patterson, Sherman Oaks Cal, actress (Nicole-Something So Right)
• 1984 - Ryan O'Donohue, Pomona Ca, actress (Byrds of Paradise, Boys are Back)

Famous deaths for this day ..

• 0757 - Stephen II, [III/Orsini?], Pope (752-57), dies
• 1196 - Alfonso II, King of Aragon (1162-96), dies
• 1444 - Robert Campin, South Neth painter/porter of Doornik, dies at about 65
• 1478 - Giuliano de' Medici, Medeheerser of Florence, murdered at about 24
• 1558 - Jean Fran‡ois Fernel, French physician, dies
• 1648 - Christoph Thomas Walliser, composer, dies at 79
• 1703 - Georg Christoph Leuttner, composer, dies at 58
• 1726 - Jeremy Collier, Engl bishop/historian/opponent to theater, dies at 75
• 1731 - Daniel Defoe, English author (Robinson Crusoe), dies at about 70
• 1785 - Karl Siegmund von Seckendorff, composer, dies at 40
• 1789 - Peter I Panin, Russian general (Pugatshov-uprising), dies at about 67
• 1805 - Jean BG d'ansse the Villoison, classic (Anecdota Graeca), dies at 55
• 1827 - Bernardo Ottani, composer, dies at 90
• 1865 - Charles J Sax, Belgian inventor (saxophone), dies at 74
• 1865 - John Wilkes Booth, assassin, is shot dead near Bowling Green VA at 27
• 1907 - Pietro Plantania, composer, dies at 79
• 1910 - Bjķrnstjerne Bjķrnson, Norwegian writer (Mary, Nobel 1903), dies at 77
• 1920 - Srinivasa Ramanujan, Indian math genius (ć/Notebooks), dies at 32
• 1922 - Hans Sommer, composer, dies at 84
• 1924 - Josef Labor, composer, dies at 82
• 1932 - Bill Lockwood, cricketer (43 wickets in 12 Tests for England), dies
• 1938 - Edmund Husserl, German philosopher (study of phenomenon), dies at 79
• 1940 - Carl Bosch, German chemist (BASF, IG Farben, Nobel 1931), dies at 65
• 1941 - Jean Demoor, Belgian physician/physiologist/educationalist, dies at 74
• 1946 - Hermann Keyserling, count/philosopher (Unsterblichkeit), dies at 65
• 1951 - John Alden Carpenter, US composer (Sea Drift), dies at 75
• 1952 - Charles L Baars, Dutch actor (Women Tamers), dies at 59
• 1956 - Edward Arnold, actor (Mr Smith Goes to Washington), dies at 66
• 1958 - Joe Small, cricketer (WI all-rounder in 1928 series), dies
• 1958 - Johan N C "Joan" Collette, painter, dies at 68
• 1960 - Wander J de Haas, Dut physicist (Einstein-De Haas effect), dies at 82
• 1961 - Gail Russell, actress (Calcutta, Moonrise, El Paso), dies at 36
• 1964 - Edwin John Pratt, Canadian poet (Towards the Last Spike), dies at 81
• 1964 - Pieter van der Lijn, Dutch geologist (Boulder Book), dies at 93
• 1965 - Aaron Avshalomov, composer, dies at 70
• 1970 - Gypsy Rose Lee, stripper/actress (Pruitts of S Hampton), dies at 56
• 1970 - John Knittel, writer, dies at 79
• 1970 - Paul Celan, writer, dies at 49 [or May 5]
• 1972 - Margaret A R Bonds, US pianist/composer/arranger, dies at 59
• 1973 - Irene Ryan, actress (Granny-Beverly Hillbillies), dies at 69
• 1976 - Allan Jackson, newscaster (Youth Takes a Stand), dies at 60
• 1976 - Neil McCallum, actor (Pete-Saber of London), dies at 45
• 1976 - Sidney James, actor (Lavander Hill Mob, Carry On), dies at 65
• 1980 - Cicely Courtneidge, actress (Double Exposure), dies at 87
• 1981 - Jim Davis, actor (Jack Ewing-Dallas), dies at 65
• 1981 - Madge Evans, TV panelist (Masquerade Party), dies at 71
• 1981 - Robert Davi, dies at 54
• 1982 - Celia Johnson, British actress (Jean Brodie), dies of stroke at 73
• 1982 - Ville Ritola, Finnish 5/10km runner (Olympic-gold-1924, 28), dies
• 1983 - Bronislaw Kaper, composer, dies at 81
• 1983 - Vaughn Taylor, actor (Johnny Jupiter), dies at 72
• 1984 - Henry Rowland, actor (Rogue's Regiment), dies at 70
• 1984 - May McAvoy, actress (Ben Hur), dies at 82 after a heart attack
• 1984 - William "Count" Basie, jazz piano great, dies on 80th birthday
• 1986 - Bessie Love, actress (Broadway Melody, Isadora), dies at 87
• 1986 - [William] Broderick Crawford, actor (Highway Patrol), dies at 74
• 1989 - Lucille Ball, comedienne (I Love Lucy), dies of heart attack at 78
• 1990 - Carlos Pizarro Leongomez, Colombian pres candidate, assassinated
• 1991 - Carmine Coppola, composer/father of Francis Ford Coppola, dies
• 1991 - Emily McLaughlin, US actress (Jessie-General Hospital), dies at 61
• 1992 - Alberta Vaughn, actress (Wild Horse, Silver Devil), dies at 87
• 1992 - Clyde Hartley, entertainer, dies at 68
• 1995 - Alexander Knox, actor/writer (Gorky Park, Accident), dies at 88
• 1996 - Burton Stein, historian, dies at 69
• 1996 - John Norrie McArthur, malariologist/microscopist, dies at 94
• 1996 - Stirling Silliphant, screenwriter, dies at 78
• 1997 - Joey Faye, comic (Fruit of the Loom grapes), dies at 86
• 1997 - Peng Zhen, mayor of Beijing China (1951-66), dies
• 1997 - Yegorov, Russian leader (1994-95), dies