If you were born Today, May 22, then you share the same birthday with the beautiful and gorgeous Naomi Campbell and Manchester United, and Football legend George Best. Today’s famous birthday celebrants include Richard Wagner, Kenny Ball, Bernie Taupin, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Susan Strasberg, Morrissey, Lord Laurence Olivier, and more.
This article will provide all the information and facts you need to know about famous people born today.
Who Are The Famous People’s Born Today: May 22?
Today, we celebrate the birthdays of famous people who have left a lasting legacy and impacted generations and generations yet unborn. Scroll down to discover and explore the famous people born on this day, May 22:
Richard Wagner will have been 211 years old today.
Richard Wagner was a renowned German composer, theatre director, polemicist, and conductor. He was born on May 22, 1813, in Leipzig, Germany, and was an influential figure in the world of classical music. Revered for his complex operas and innovative compositions, Wagner’s influence on music and culture remains profound.
Wagner studied at the St. Thomas School in Leipzig and later attended Leipzig University, where he took composition lessons from Christian Theodor Weinlig. Wagner’s early exposure to Beethoven’s works significantly impacted his musical development.
Richard Wagner started his professional journey as a choirmaster at a theater in Würzburg. He returned to Leipzig and was appointed the manager of an Opera house. His first notable success came with the opera Rienzi, which premiered in 1842 in Dresden. This success was followed by “The Flying Dutchman” (1843) and “Tannhäuser” (1845).
In 1848, Wagner became involved in the political upheavals of the time and participated in the May Uprising in Dresden. His revolutionary activities forced him to flee to Switzerland, where he began work on his epic cycle “Der Ring des Nibelungen” (The Ring of the Nibelung). He composed a series of four operas: “Das Rheingold,” “Die Walküre,” “Siegfried,” and “Götterdämmerung.”
Wagner’s established the Bayreuth Festspielhaus, where he began the Bayreuth Festival, a venue specifically built for the performance of his works, was another significant achievement. The festival started in 1876 and continues to be a major event in the world of classical music.
He was first married to Minna Planer in 1836, but their marriage was troubled, and they eventually separated. In 1870, Wagner married Cosima von Bülow. Richard Wagner died at the age of 69 on February 13, 1883, in Venice.
Quick Fact About Richard Wagner
- Richard Wagner’s birthday name is Wilhelm Richard Wagner.
- He married twice to Minna Planer and Cosima von Bülow.
- His breakthrough opera was “Rienzi,” which premiered in 1842 in Dresden.
- He died at the age of 63.
Kenny Ball will have been 94 years old today.
Kenny Ball was a renowned British jazz musician and bandleader, lead trumpet player, and vocalist at Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen. He was born on May 22, 1930, in Ilford, Essex, England. Kenny Ball became one of the most prominent figures in the British jazz scene, particularly known for his contributions to the “Trad Jazz” movement of the 1950s and 1960s.
Kenny Ball dropped out of school at the age of 14 to work as a clerk at an advertising agency. During that time, he began taking trumpet lessons.
Ball’s professional career began in 1953 when he played trumpet with the Sid Phillips Band. However, in 1958, he formed his own band, Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen, which quickly gained popularity.
In 1961, Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen released “Midnight in Moscow,” which became an international hit, reaching No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100. This success propelled Ball to global fame and established him as a leading figure in the Trad Jazz movement.
The band continued to enjoy success throughout the 1960s, with hits such as “March of the Siamese Children,” “The Green Leaves of Summer,” and “So Do I.”
Ball’s band played at prestigious venues and events worldwide, including the Newport Jazz Festival and the Royal Variety Performance. They also performed for royalty, including Queen Elizabeth II, and collaborated with numerous renowned musicians.
Kenny Ball was married twice. His first marriage to Betty Smith resulted in two children, including Keith Ball, who later performed with his father’s band. After divorcing Betty, he married Michelle Wilde, with whom he remained until his death.
Even in his later years, Kenny Ball continued to perform and tour, maintaining a busy schedule well into his seventies. His band, Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen remained active, and he was a regular presence at jazz festivals and events.
Kenny Ball passed away on March 7, 2013, at the age of 82, following a battle with pneumonia.
Quick Fact About Kenny Ball
- Kenny Ball was born in Ilford, Essex, England.
- His real name is Kenneth Daniel Ball.
- He dropped out of school at the age of 14.
- Ball passed away on March 7, 2013, at the age of 82.
Bernie Taupin is 74 years old today.
Bernie Taupin is an English-American lyricist best known for his partnership with Elton John, with whom he has written over thirty albums since 1967. He is one of the famous people born on May 22.
Taupin’s education was relatively modest, unlike that of his brother Tony, who attended the University. He grew up in a rural environment, attending a local school in Owmby-by-Spital. At the age of 15, he left school and began working as a trainee in the print room of Lincolnshire Standard, a local newspaper.
Bernie Taupin’s career took a pivotal turn at the age of 17 in 1967 when he answered an advertisement placed by Liberty Records seeking new talent. This ad also attracted Elton John, then known as Reginald Dwight. Ray Williams, an A&R manager at Liberty Records, paired the duo, and they began a partnership that would become one of the most successful collaborations in music history.
Their first major success came with the 1970 album “Elton John,” which included the hit “Your Song.” This song marked the beginning of a prolific period in which Taupin and John created numerous classic albums and hits, including “Candle in the Wind,” “Tiny Dancer,” “Rocket Man,” and “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.”
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Taupin continued to write lyrics for many of Elton John’s albums, contributing to the singer’s global success. Despite occasional separations where each pursued individual projects, their partnership endured, and they reunited in the 1990s to produce more music together.
Taupin received several awards and honors, including an Oscar for Best Original Song for “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again,” a Golden Globe, and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Bernie Taupin has been married four times. His first marriage was to Maxine Feibelman in 1971, which ended in divorce in 1977. He then married Toni Russo in 1979, and they divorced in 1991. His third marriage was to Stephanie Haymes Roven, which lasted from 1993 to 1998. Taupin married his fourth wife, Heather Kidd, in 2004, and they have two daughters together.
Quick Fact About Bernie Taupin
- Bernie Taupin’s birth name is Bernard John Taupin.
- He was born in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, England on May 22, 1950.
- He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).
- Bernie became a US Citizen in 1990.
- His net worth is $200 million as of now.
- He has been married four times.
George Best will have been 78 years old today.
George Best, born on May 22, 1946, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time. He spent most of his active playing club career at Manchester United.
George Best’s early education was at Grosvenor High School in Belfast, but his passion for football largely overshadowed his academic journey. Discovered by Manchester United scout Bob Bishop at the age of 15, Best moved to England to pursue his football career, leaving formal education behind to join Manchester United’s youth academy.
Best’s professional career began when he debuted for Manchester United in 1963, at 17, against West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford. His impact was immediate, and he quickly became a fan favorite. He is known for his dribbling skills, speed, and scoring ability.
One of Best’s most memorable performances came in 1966 when he scored twice against Benfica in a European Cup quarter-final match, earning the nickname “El Beatle.” He was 19 years old at that time, and the performance propelled him to stardom.
During his time at Manchester United, Best helped the team win two First Division titles (1964–65 and 1966–67) and the European Cup in 1968, where they defeated Benfica 4-1 in the final. Best’s contribution to that victory was pivotal, and he was named the European Footballer of the Year in 1968.
Best’s career, however, was plagued by personal issues, particularly his struggles with alcohol. His off-field antics often overshadowed his on-field brilliance, and by the mid-1970s, his career at Manchester United had begun to decline. He left the club in 1974 after making 474 appearances and scoring 181 goals.
Following his departure from Manchester United, Best played for several clubs worldwide, including stints in the United States, Scotland, and Australia. However, he never recaptured the form that had made him a global superstar in his early years.
In addition to his football awards, Best received numerous posthumous honors, including renaming Belfast City Airport to George Best Belfast City Airport in 2006.
George Best’s personal life was tumultuous. He was married twice; his first marriage to Angela MacDonald-Janes in 1978 ended in divorce in 1986. They had a son, Calum Best, who became a model and television personality. Best married his second wife, Alex Pursey, in 1995, but they divorced in 2004.
George Best’s later years were marked by his continued struggle with alcohol-related health issues. He underwent a liver transplant in 2002, but his health continued to deteriorate. Best passed away on November 25, 2005, at the age of 59 due to multiple organ failure.
Quick Fact About George Best
- George Best joined Manchester United Academy at the age of 15.
- He made 474 appearances and scored 181 goals for Manchester United.
- George was fifth in the FIFA Player of the Century vote.
- He was named the European Footballer of the Year in 1968.
- George Best married twice and died at the age of 59.
Morrissey is 65 years old today.
Morrissey is an iconic English singer and songwriter and one of the famous people born on May 22. As the iconic lead singer of “The Smiths” and a successful solo artist, Morrissey has left an indelible mark on the landscape of alternative rock music with his baritone voice, unique lyrics, and provocative persona.
Morrissey grew up in Manchester, where he attended St. Wilfrid’s Primary School and later St. Mary’s Secondary Modern School, where he participated in athletics. He later enrolled at Stretford Technical College.
Morrissey’s musical career took off in 1982 when he formed The Smiths with guitarist Johnny Marr, bassist Andy Rourke, and drummer Mike Joyce. The band quickly gained a cult following with their self-titled debut album, “The Smiths,” released in 1984. The Smiths released several critically acclaimed albums, including “Meat Is Murder” (1985), “The Queen Is Dead” (1986), and “Strangeways, Here We Come” (1987).
Despite their success, internal tensions led to the band’s breakup in 1987. Morrissey embarked on a solo career, releasing his debut album, “Viva Hate,” in 1988. The album featured the hit singles “Suedehead” and “Everyday Is Like Sunday.”
Over the years, Morrissey released several successful albums, such as “Your Arsenal” (1992), “Vauxhall and I” (1993), and “You Are the Quarry” (2004), which included the notable single “Irish Blood, English Heart.”
He has never married and has often kept his romantic relationships out of the public eye. In his autobiography, published in 2013, Morrissey revealed a relationship with photographer Jake Walters, providing a rare glimpse into his personal life. Morrissey identifies as asexual, and his views on relationships and sexuality have been a topic of both interest and controversy over the years.
Quick Fact About Morrissey
- Morrissey’s full name is Steven Patrick Morrissey.
- He was born on May 22, 1959.
- Morrissey is 65 years old now.
- He had his breakthrough as a lead man of “The Smiths.”
More Famous People’s Birthday: May 22.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle will have been 165 years old today.
Birth Year: 1859
Place of Birth: Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Profession: Writer and physician
Susan Strasberg will have been 86 years old today.
Birth Year: 1938
Place of Birth: New York, United States
Profession: Actress
Lord Laurence Olivier will have been 117 years old today.
Birth Year: 1907
Place of Birth: Dorking, United Kingdom
Profession: Actor and director
Naomi Campbell is 54 years old today.
Birth Year: 1970
Place of Birth: London, United Kingdom
Profession: Model and media personality
