May 28 birthdays and deaths:

Edward VIII

Edward VIII, the Duke of Windsor, was the eldest son of King George V and Queen Mary. He caused a constitutional crisis when he abdicated the British throne in 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee, defying the royal family's objections.

Deathyear: 1972

Phil Hartman

Phil Hartman was a beloved Canadian-American actor and comedian born in 1948. He's best known for his 20-year stint as a cast member on Saturday Night Live and his distinctive voice acting skills in various cartoons and animated films.

Deathyear: 1998

Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou, a renowned American memoirist and poet, was born on April 4, 1928. Best known for her autobiographical novel "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," Angelou's work explored issues of racism, sexism, and identity.

Deathyear: 2014

Audie Murphy

Audie Murphy, a World War II veteran, distinguished himself as a hero in combat, earning the Medal of Honor, Purple Heart, and numerous other medals. He went on to become a successful actor, starring in films such as "To Hell and Back" and "Destry."

Deathyear: 1971

Harambe

Harambe, a western lowland gorilla, was born at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Texas in 1999. He was relocated to the Cincinnati Zoo in 2015. Tragically, Harambe was killed in 2016 after a 3-year-old boy entered his enclosure, leading to international controversy and concern over zoo safety.

Deathyear: 2016

Gary Coleman

Gary Coleman was an American actor who played Arnold Jackson on the popular sitcom "Diff'rent Strokes" from 1978 to 1986. He was only 8 years old when he began his acting career and became a household name.

Deathyear: 2010

Malcolm Glazer

Malcolm Glazer was a successful businessman and entrepreneur, best known for his ownership of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL) and Manchester United (English Premier League). He acquired the teams in the 1990s and built their value through shrewd investments and management.

Deathyear: 2014

Anne Brontë

Anne Brontë (1820-1849) was a talented novelist and poet, best known for her novels "Agnes Grey" and "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall". She died of tuberculosis at age 29, leaving behind a legacy as a pioneering female writer in Victorian literature.

Deathyear: 1849

Alfred Adler

Alfred Adler (1870-1937) was a pioneering Austrian-Scottish ophthalmologist and psychologist who founded Individual Psychology, emphasizing the inherent worth and uniqueness of each individual. He also developed the concept of "organ inferiority complex" and explored the role of sibling rivalry in human behavior.

Deathyear: 1937

Eric Morecambe

Eric Morecambe was a beloved English actor and comedian, best known for his iconic BBC show "The Morecambe and Wise Show" alongside Ernie Wise. With his quick wit, lovable humor, and signature eyewear, he charmed audiences for decades.

Deathyear: 1984

Mark Eaton

Mark Eaton, an imposing American basketball center, was born on April 24, 1957. Standing at 7 feet 4 inches, Eaton played for the Utah Jazz from 1982 to 1997, earning two NBA All-Defensive Team selections and setting the record for most blocks in a single season in 1989.

Deathyear: 2021

John Russell, 1st Earl Russell

John Russell, 1st Earl Russell, was a British Liberal politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1846 to 1852 and again from 1865 to 1866. He was known for his strong abolitionist views and his role in the Reform Acts of 1832 and 1867.

Deathyear: 1878

Martha Scott

Martha Scott, a pioneering American actress, was born July 3, 1912. She began her career on stage, transitioning to film and television in the 1940s. Her notable roles include "Pride of the Bluegrass" (1939) and "All the King's Men" (1949), showcasing her versatility and talent.

Deathyear: 2003

Ezzard Charles

Ezzard Charles, a legendary American boxer, was born in 1921. He held the world heavyweight title from 1949 to 1951 and is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Deathyear: 1975

Leopold Mozart

I think you meant Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, not Leopold Mozart. Leopold Mozart was the father of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and was an Austrian composer, conductor, and musician.

Deathyear: 1787

Noah Webster

Noah Webster, a pioneering American lexicographer, was born in 1758. He is renowned for his comprehensive dictionaries, which helped standardize American English. His works, including "An American Dictionary of the English Language" (1828), promoted spelling reforms and introduced regional linguistic variations to the world.

Deathyear: 1843

Patricia Brake

Patricia Brake is a British actress, born in 1942, known for her extensive television, film, and stage work. With a career spanning over five decades, Brake has appeared in countless productions, earning a reputation as a versatile and accomplished performer in the world of British entertainment.

Deathyear: 2022

Mary Lou Williams

Mary Lou Williams (1910-1981) was a pioneering American pianist and composer, known for her innovative jazz and classical fusion style. She mentored many notable musicians and wrote works that defied genre boundaries, earning her a reputation as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century.

Deathyear: 1981

Luigi Boccherini

Luigi Boccherini was a renowned Italian cellist and composer, born in 1743. He was a prominent figure in the Classical period, known for his innovative and melodic compositions.

Deathyear: 1805

Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville

Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville, was a Scottish lawyer and politician who served as Secretary of State for War from 1794 to 1801. He was born in 1742 and was a key figure in the British government during the French Revolutionary Wars.

Deathyear: 1811

Ilya Prigogine

Ilya Prigogine was a Russian-Belgian chemist who made groundbreaking discoveries in chemical kinetics and thermodynamics. Awarded the 1977 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, he developed the theory of dissipative structures, revolutionizing our understanding of complex systems and chemical reactions.

Deathyear: 2003

H. Jones

Henry Worsley Jones, known as "H" Jones, was a British Army officer who posthumously received the Victoria Cross for his bravery during the Battle of Mirbat in 1972. Born in 1940, Jones served in the Paras and was awarded the nation's highest honor for his selfless actions.

Deathyear: 1982

D'Urville Martin

D'Urville Martin was an American actor and director, born in 1939. He is best known for his roles in the films "Cotton Comes to Harlem" and "Buck and the Preacher". Martin also directed the film "Willie & Phil" in 1980.

Deathyear: 1984

Zainul Abedin

Zainul Abedin (1914-1976) was a prominent Bangladeshi painter and sculptor. He was known for his innovative use of watercolors and bold brushstrokes, capturing the simplicity and beauty of rural life in Bangladesh. His artwork reflected the country's rich cultural heritage and its people's struggles.

Deathyear: 1976

Ivan Franko

Ivan Franko was a prominent Ukrainian public figure, best known for his literary and journalistic works. As an economist, he advocated for national and economic independence. His poetry and prose explored Ukrainian identity, folklore, and social issues.

Deathyear: 1916

Francisco Varela

Francisco Varela, a Chilean biologist and philosopher, was born in 1946. He was a prominent figure in the development of theories on neuroplasticity and embodied cognition.

Deathyear: 2001

Julius Eastman

Julius Eastman (1940-1990) was an American composer and pianist known for his innovative and eclectic style, blending classical, jazz, and African-American traditions. His music often explored themes of identity, culture, and social justice.

Deathyear: 1990

Afonso IV of Portugal

Afonso IV of Portugal (1291-1357) was the tenth king of Portugal, ruling from 1325 to 1357. He expanded Portugal's territories through military campaigns in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, notably capturing the city of Gibraltar from the Moors.

Deathyear: 1357

Reynaldo Rey

Reynaldo Rey was an American actor and screenwriter born in 1940. Active in the entertainment industry since the 1960s, he appeared in numerous television shows and films, including the popular sitcom "The Jeffersons" and the Oscar-winning film "Crash".

Deathyear: 2015

Emperor Sakuramachi

Emperor Sakuramachi was the 117th emperor of Japan, reigning from 1735 to 1747. Born in 1720, Sakuramachi was the only woman to hold the position, and her reign saw the rise of the powerful Tokugawa shogunate, which dominated Japanese politics and culture.

Deathyear: 1750

Eddie Romero

Eddie Romero is a legendary Filipino director, producer, and screenwriter, born in 1924. He has contributed significantly to the development of Philippine cinema, producing over 600 films and TV shows, and is often referred to as the "Father of Philippine Cinema."

Deathyear: 2013

Cornelia Frances

Cornelia Frances is an English-Australian actress, born in 1941. She is best known for her long-running role as Morag Bellingham on the Australian soap opera "Home and Away."

Deathyear: 2018

Boris Kustodiev

Boris Kustodiev was a renowned Russian painter and stage designer, known for his vibrant and expressive works, often depicting folk scenes and mythical narratives. His distinctive style blended traditional Russian motifs with elements of Art Nouveau.

Deathyear: 1927