18 historically significant individuals born on May 27. May 27 is the birth date of several notable individuals in politics, entertainment, and science. Noteworthy figures born on this day include Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone (1918), British actor Christopher Lee (1922), and Nobel Prize-winning physicist Donna Strickland (1959). Azerbaijani journalist Xədicə İsmayılova (1976) and Khamis Gaddafi (1983), son of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, were also born on this day.
Total Born
18
Countries
17
Top Century
20th· 10
Top Field
association football player
4 individuals
Headline Figures
scientist
John Cockcroft
1897 – 1967Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physics (1951)
scientist
Henry Kissinger
1923 – 2023Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Peace (1973)
investigative journalist
Xədicə İsmayılova
1976 – PresentAzerbaijani investigative journalist and radio host for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty who was imprisoned multiple times for her reporting on government corruption. She won the 2012 UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize for her work exposing political and economic corruption in Azerbaijan.
Birth Distribution by Century
20th (10)
19th (4)
17th C.20th C.
20th Century
10Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Henry Kissinger
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Peace (1973)
Xədicə İsmayılova
investigative journalistjournalist
Azerbaijani investigative journalist and radio host for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty who was imprisoned multiple times for her reporting on government corruption. She won the 2012 UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize for her work exposing political and economic corruption in Azerbaijan.
Yasuhiro Nakasone
politician
Prime Minister from 1982 to 1987 who strengthened Japan's military capabilities and forged closer ties with the United States during the Cold War.
Donna Strickland
physicistuniversity teacher
Canadian physicist who won the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics for developing chirped pulse amplification, a technique that revolutionized laser technology.
AS
Armando Sadiku
association football player
Albanian striker who scored his country's first-ever goal at a major tournament during the 2016 European Championship in France.
KG
Khamis Gaddafi
military officerpolitician
Youngest son of Muammar Gaddafi who commanded the elite Khamis Brigade and was reportedly killed during the 2011 civil war.
Birkir Bjarnason
association football player
Icelandic midfielder who has played for clubs including FC Basel and Al-Arabi and was a regular starter for Iceland during their Euro 2016 campaign. He has earned over 80 caps for his national team.
Celso Borges
association football player
Costa Rican midfielder who captained the national team and played for clubs including AIK Stockholm and Deportivo Saprissa.
Christopher Lee
film actororator
English actor best known for his iconic portrayal of Dracula in Hammer Horror films and his roles as Saruman in 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy. He appeared in over 250 films during his prolific career spanning six decades.
João Cancelo
association football player
Portuguese full-back who has played for top clubs including Manchester City and Bayern Munich, known for his attacking contributions from defensive positions.
19th Century
4Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
John Cockcroft
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physics (1951)
David Morley Charleston
engineerpolitician
Australian politician (1848-1934)
Jean-Baptiste Moens
journalistmerchant
Belgian stamp dealer and philatelist (1833-1908)
Edelmiro Mayer
journalistmilitary personnel
Argentinian journalist and politician (1836–1897)
18th Century
2Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
José Romero y Fernández de Landa
engineermilitary personnel
Spanish naval architect (1735-1807)
Benjamin Valz
astronomermathematician
French astronomer
17th Century
2Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Maria Clara Eimmart
astronomerprintmaker
German astronomer, engraver and illustrator (1676–1707)
Thormodus Torfæus
historianwriter
Icelandic historian
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the most famous person born on May 27?
Christopher Lee, the British actor known for his roles as Dracula and Saruman, is likely the most internationally recognized person born on May 27, 1922. He appeared in over 250 films during his career and is an icon of horror and fantasy cinema.
Are there any Nobel Prize winners born on May 27?
Yes, Donna Strickland was born on May 27, 1959, and won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2018 for her work in laser physics. She was only the third woman ever to receive the Nobel Prize in Physics.
Which political leaders were born on May 27?
Yasuhiro Nakasone, who was Prime Minister of Japan from 1982 to 1987, was born on May 27, 1918. His leadership helped strengthen Japan's international relationships and economic growth during the 1980s.