May 2 birthdays and deaths:

Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci was a renowned Italian master of arts and sciences. He painted iconic works like the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, sculpted famous statues, and designed innovative buildings and machines. His curiosity and genius knew no bounds, earning him a lasting legacy in art and history.

Deathyear: 1519

Osama bin Laden

Osama bin Laden was a Saudi Arabian terrorist and founder of Al-Qaeda. Born in 1957, he is widely believed to be responsible for numerous terrorist attacks, including the 1998 United States embassy bombings and the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center.

Deathyear: 2011

J. Edgar Hoover

Here is 40-word summary about J. Edgar Hoover: J. Edgar Hoover, born in 1895, was the first director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from 1935 to 1972. He transformed the agency into a modern law enforcement institution, emphasizing forensic science and intelligence gathering. His tenure was marked by controversy and allegations of abuse of power.

Deathyear: 1972

Jack Kemp

Jack Kemp was a trailblazing athlete and politician. As a quarterback, he led the Buffalo Bills to two AFL championships. Later, he served as US Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President George H.W. Bush, advocating for housing reform and community development initiatives.

Deathyear: 2009

Oliver Reed

Oliver Reed was a renowned English actor, born in 1938. With a career spanning over six decades, he appeared in numerous films, including "The Party's Over" and "Tom Jones". Known for his powerful performances and striking presence, he remains a legendary figure in British cinema.

Deathyear: 1999

Joseph McCarthy

Joseph McCarthy was a controversial American politician who served as a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin from 1947 until his resignation in 1957. He gained notoriety for his accusations of communist infiltration in the U.S. government and military during the Red Scare of the 1950s.

Deathyear: 1957

Afeni Shakur

Afeni Shakur, born 1947, is an American music businesswoman, activist, and former Black Panther. She co-founded Tupac Shakur Productions with her late son, the rapper Tupac Shakur, and advocated for social justice and Black empowerment.

Deathyear: 2016

Martin Bormann

Martin Bormann was a high-ranking Nazi Party official, serving as Adolf Hitler's personal secretary and head of the Nazi Party Chancellery. He played a crucial role in implementing the Nazi regime's policies, particularly in propaganda and ideology.

Deathyear: 1945

Lynn Redgrave

Lynn Redgrave was a talented English-American actress and singer, born in 1943. She conquered stage and screen with her expressive performances in film and television, earning critical acclaim for her versatility and depth.

Deathyear: 2010

Franz von Papen

Franz von Papen was a German general and politician who served as Chancellor of Germany from 1932 to 1933, appointing Adolf Hitler as Vice Chancellor. He was a conservative, aristocratic Catholic with a pragmatic approach, aiming to stabilize the country through a grand coalition with the Nazi Party.

Deathyear: 1969

Justin Fashanu

Justin Fashanu, a trailblazing English footballer, broke grounds for black players in the sport. Born in 1961, he played for various clubs, including Norwich City and Leeds United. He was also England's first black international player. His life and career were marked by both triumph and scandal.

Deathyear: 1998

Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

Efrem Zimbalist Jr. was an American actor, born in 1918, best known for his roles in the TV series "77 Sunset Strip" and "Tales of Wells Fargo". He had a long and illustrious acting career, appearing in over 140 films and TV shows.

Deathyear: 2014

Jeff Hanneman

Jeff Hanneman was a pioneering American guitarist and songwriter, best known as the co-founder of the thrash metal band Slayer. With his distinctive playing style and heavy riffs, Hanneman crafted iconic songs like "Angel of Death" and "Raining Blood".

Deathyear: 2013

Paulo Freire

Paulo Freire was a renowned Brazilian philosopher and academic, born in 1921. A pioneering thinker on education and social justice, he advocated for critical pedagogy, empowering marginalized communities, and combating oppression through dialogue, love, and action.

Deathyear: 1997

Nancy Astor, Viscountess Astor

Nancy Witcher Langhorne Astor, Viscountess Astor, was an American-English politician who was the first woman to take her seat in the British House of Commons in 1919. She served as a Conservative MP from 1919 to 1945.

Deathyear: 1964

Darius Morris

Darius Morris is an American professional basketball player born on January 19, 1991. He played college basketball for the University of Michigan and was drafted 47th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2011 NBA draft.

Deathyear: 2024

Michael Hordern

Michael Hordern was a renowned English actor, born in 1911. With a career spanning over five decades, he appeared in numerous stage and screen productions, earning a reputation as a master of his craft.

Deathyear: 1995

Hide (musician)

Hide, born Osamu Mori, is a Japanese singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer known for his bold and expressive voice. As a member of the supergroup X Japan, he rose to fame before his tragic death at 25, leaving a lasting impact on the Japanese music scene.

Deathyear: 1998

David Rappaport

David Rappaport was an English-American actor born in 1951. He was known for his memorable roles in films like "The Wild Life" and TV shows like "Police Squad!" He played a myriad of characters throughout his career, bringing his talents to various mediums and leaving audiences in awe.

Deathyear: 1990

Norm Van Brocklin

Norm Van Brocklin was an American football player and coach who played as a quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams and won the NFL Championship in 1951. He coached the Rams from 1958-1964 and led the Philadelphia Eagles to a championship in 1960.

Deathyear: 1983

Ruth Rendell

Ruth Rendell, a renowned English author, wrote over 60 novels, often exploring the complexities of human psychology and society. Her works, including the Inspector Wexford series, showcased her remarkable storytelling talent and impressive range.

Deathyear: 2015

Bob Clampett

Bob Clampett was a pioneering American animator, director, and producer, best known for his work on Looney Tunes cartoons. With a distinctive style, he directed over 80 cartoons, including wartime propaganda shorts, and created the beloved character Woody Woodpecker.

Deathyear: 1984

Henri Toivonen

Henri Toivonen, born in 1956, was a Finnish rally driver who won several prestigious events, including the 1981 and 1982 World Rally Championships. He was known for his aggressive driving style and was considered one of the top drivers of his time.

Deathyear: 1986

Clara Immerwahr

Clara Immerwahr, a trailblazing German chemist, was born in 1870. She earned her Ph.D. in chemistry in 1900, focusing on organic chemistry. Her work on the reaction of alkyl chlorides and diazonium salts led to several groundbreaking discoveries, solidifying her place in the history of chemistry.

Deathyear: 1915

Michael Blake (author)

Michael Blake, born in 1945, is a renowned American author and screenwriter, best known for his novel "Dances with Wolves," which was adapted into an Academy Award-winning film. He has written several other novels and screenplays, exploring themes of Native American culture and the human spirit.

Deathyear: 2015

William de la Pole, 1st Duke of Suffolk

William de la Pole, 1st Duke of Suffolk, was a powerful English admiral born in 1396. He commanded the English fleet during the Hundred Years' War, defeating the French in 1415. He was raised to the dukedom of Suffolk and served as Lord High Admiral of England from 1424 until his death.

Deathyear: 1450

Wee Kim Wee

Wee Kim Wee was a Singaporean journalist and politician who served as the 4th President of Singapore from 1985 to 1993. Born in 1915, he began his career as a journalist and later entered politics, playing a key role in shaping Singapore's governance and development.

Deathyear: 2005

Giacomo Meyerbeer

Giacomo Meyerbeer, a German composer and educator, was born in 1791.

Deathyear: 1864

Maya Plisetskaya

Maya Plisetskaya was a renowned Russian-Lithuanian ballerina, choreographer, actress, and director. Born in 1925, she was known for her iconic performances with the Bolshoi Ballet and became a national treasure in Russia.

Deathyear: 2015

Boris I of Bulgaria

Boris I of Bulgaria, also known as Boris-Mikhail, was the ruler of the First Bulgarian Empire from 852 to 889. He introduced Christianity to Bulgaria, converting to the faith himself, and founded the capital, Preslav.

Deathyear: 907

Peter Oosterhuis

Peter Oosterhuis is a retired English professional golfer and current television commentator, known for his wins on the European Tour and Ryder Cup appearances. Born in 1948, he transitioned to broadcasting, offering expert analysis and insights on the game he loves.

Deathyear: 2024

Alfred de Musset

Alfred de Musset was a renowned French dramatist, poet, and novelist, born in 1810. He was known for his poetic and lyrical style, often exploring themes of love, desire, and social issues. His works, such as "Pharamond" and "Un Caprice," showcased his mastery of language and dramatic flair.

Deathyear: 1857

George Pal

George Pal, a Hungarian-American animator and producer, created beloved animation studios and popular franchises, including the iconic TV series "Ray Harryhausen's Fantasy and Animation" and "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad". His work spanned decades, delighting audiences and influencing the animation industry.

Deathyear: 1980

Dorothea Binz

Dorothea Binz was a German SS officer and prison guard at Ravensbrück concentration camp. Born in 1920, she was convicted of murdering 85 female prisoners and was executed in 1949.

Deathyear: 1947

Eberhard Anheuser

Eberhard Anheuser was a German-American businessman who co-founded Anheuser-Busch in 1852 with Eberhard von Gvernbeck. Born in 1805 in Hanover, Germany, Anheuser immigrated to the United States and established a successful brewing company in St. Louis, Missouri.

Deathyear: 1880

Louis Rukeyser

Louis Rukeyser was a renowned American journalist and author, best known for his Washington Week in Review segment on PBS. He was a respected voice in economics and finance, writing several books on the topic, including "Encyclopedia of Economics" and "It's Still a Brave New World".

Deathyear: 2006