If you were born today, May 9, you would share the same birthday as Perhaps one of the favorite actors in the Star Wars franchise, Rosario Dawson, known for portraying “Ahsoka Tano.” Rosario Dawson is not the only famous person born today, May 9; the list includes John Brown, J.M. Barrie, Howard Carter, Lilian Baylis, Barbara Woodhouse, Joan Sims, Alan Bennett, Albert Finney, Glenda Jackson, Billy Joel, Dave Gahan, Paul Heaton, Rosario Dawson, Dana Perino, and more.
These famous people born today have all contributed positively to their field of endeavor and left a lasting legacy through their works. This article will explore the lives, achievements, and contributions of the famous persons born today, May 9.
Who Are The Famous People’s Born Today: May 9?
Today, we celebrate the birthdays of famous people who contributed to their respective professions. Scroll down to discover and explore the famous people born on this day, May 9:
John Brown will have been 224 years old today.

John Brown led the American abolitionist movement during the 19th century. He made our list of famous people born on May 9 because of his contribution to ending the slave trade. He was born in Torrington, Connecticut, United States, on May 9, 1800.
Brown studied at the school of the abolitionist Elizur Wright and became a Gospel minister at the age of 16. He worked in various professions, including tanner, land surveyor, and bank director. However, his genuine belief in the abolition of slavery would define his legacy.
In 1856, Brown and his son led a group of anti-slavery activists in what became known as the Pottawatomie massacre in Kansas, where they killed five pro-slavery settlers. This event marked a turning point in Brown’s life, as he became increasingly committed to the use of violence to end slavery.
Brown’s most famous action occurred on October 16, 1859, when he led a raid on the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, in an attempt to ignite a slave rebellion. U.S. Marines quickly put down the raid led by First Lieutenant Israel Greene and Colonel Robert E. Lee, and Brown was captured and later executed.
Although Brown’s raid failed to achieve its immediate goals, it galvanized the abolitionist movement and is often cited as one of the key events that led to the outbreak of the Civil War.
Brown was married twice to Dianthe Lusk and Mary Ann Day and had 20 children, many of whom followed in his footsteps as abolitionists. He died on December 2, 1859, at the age of 59, by hanging after being found guilty by the Commonwealth of all charges. Still, his willingness to sacrifice his life in the fight against slavery earned him a place in American history as a martyr for the cause.
Quick Fact About John Brown
- He was born on May 9, 1800, in Torrington, Connecticut, United States.
- John Brown became a Gospel minister at the age of 16.
- He had 20 children and married twice.
- John was the first person executed for treason in the history of the United States.
Lilian Baylis will have been 150 years old today.

Lilian Baylis, born on May 9, 1874, in Marylebone, London, England, was a renowned English theatre manager and producer. She was the eldest of six children of Newton Baylis, father, and Elizabeth Baylia, mother.
Baylis attended the Royal Academy of Music, where he studied violin. She began her career in theatre when she assisted Emma Cons in managing the Old Vic and later the Sadler’s Wells theatres in London. These venues became renowned for their innovative productions of Shakespearean plays, opera, ballet, and drama.
Baylis’s achievements are nothing short of remarkable. She played a pivotal role in establishing the Sadler’s Wells Ballet Company, which later became the Royal Ballet. Additionally, she founded the Sadler’s Wells Opera Company, now known as the English National Opera, showcasing her unwavering commitment to promoting excellence in both dance and opera.
Her unwavering dedication to making the arts accessible to all, particularly working-class audiences, shows her passion and commitment. She introduced affordable ticket prices and initiated educational programs, demonstrating her belief in the transformative power of the performing arts.
The theatre is credited with developing and nurturing the talents of stars like Laurence Olivier, Peggy Ashcroft, John Gielgud, Sybil Edith Evans, Alec Guinness, Thorndike, Marius Goring, Maurice Evans, Michael Redgrave, and Ralph Richardson.
She received several awards and honors for her outstanding works in theater, including an honorary master’s degree from Oxford University and a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH). She died after a short illness on November 25, 1937, at the age of 63.
Quick Fact About Lilian Baylis
- Lilian Baylis was born in Marylebone, London, England.
- She was the eldest of six children.
- Baylis is credited with the establishment of the Royal Ballet.
- She died at the age of 63.
J.M. Barrie will have been 87 years old today.

J.M. Barrie was a renowned Scottish novelist and playwright revered for his creation of Peter Pan. He was born in Kirriemuir, Angus, Scotland, on May 9, 1860, to David Barrie and Margaret Ogilvy. Barrie died on June 19, 1937, at the age of 77.
Barrie attended Dumfries Academy and the later University of Edinburgh and began his career as a journalist at Nottingham Journal. His first novels were “Auld Licht Idylls” (1888), “A Window in Thrums” (1889), and “Little Minister” (1891). Barrie’s subsequent novels were not successful, but they were successful in 1901 and 1902 with the novels “Quality Street” and “The Admirable Crichton.”
In 1904, he wrote the play “Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up,” which premiered in London. The character of Peter Pan, a mischievous boy who can fly and never grows up, captured the imagination of audiences worldwide.
“Peter Pan” was adapted into a novel, “Peter and Wendy,” published in 1911 and became a classic of children’s literature. Over the years, it has been adapted into numerous stage productions, films, and other media. He became a baronet in 1913 for his contributions to literature.
Barrie married actress Mary Ansell in 1894, but the marriage was reportedly unhappy, and they divorced in 1909. They had no children of their own, but Barrie became the legal guardian of five young boys after their parents’ deaths. His close relationship with these boys, particularly the Llewelyn Davies family, inspired much of his work, including “Peter Pan.”
Quick Fact About J.M. Barrie
- J.M. Barrie’s full name is James Matthew Barrie.
- His famous work is the creation of “Peter Pan.
- He became a baronet in 1913.
- Barrie died at the age of 77.
Howard Carter will have been 150 years old today.
Another famous personality on the famous people’s list for May 9 is Howard Carter, a British archaeologist and Egyptologist renowned for his discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun. He was born on May 9, 1874, in Kensington, London, England, to Samuel John, artist and illustrator Samuel John Carter and Martha Joyce Carter. He passed away on March 2, 1939, at the age of 64.
Carter developed a passion for archaeology at a young age, inspired by Egyptian antiques at the Didlington Hall of Amherst family mansion. He began his career as an artist and copyist, working for the Egypt Exploration Fund at the age of 17.
With each excavation in Egypt, Carter’s expertise and reputation grew. His dedication to the field of archaeology was recognized in 1899 when he was appointed as the inspector of Monuments for Upper Egypt in Luxor. This role allowed him to oversee and contribute to significant archaeological work in the region. He began working at the Valley of the Kings on his own in early 1902.
Carter’s career reached its pinnacle in 1922 when he discovered the tomb of the ancient Egyptian 18th Dynasty pharaoh Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings. The discovery made headlines around the world and catapulted Carter to international fame. Carter never married nor had any children, and he dedicated much of his life to pursuing archaeological discovery.
Quick Fact About Howard Carter
- Howard Carter was born in Kensington, England, on May 9, 1874.
- He was never married nor had a child.
- His most famous discovery is the tomb of Tutankhamun.
- He died at the age of 64.
More Famous People’s Birthday Today: May 9.
Barbara Woodhouse will have been 114 years old today.

Birth Year: 1910
Place of Birth: Buckinghamshire, England
Profession: Animal trainer and television personality
Joan Sims will have been 94 years old today.

Birth Year: 1930
Place of Birth: Laindon, Essex, England
Profession: Actress
Alan Bennett is 90 years old today.

Birth Year: 1934
Place of Birth: Armley, Leeds, Yorkshire, England
Profession: Actor, author, playwright, and screenwriter
Albert Finney will have been 88 years old today.

Birth Year: 1936
Place of Birth: Salford, Lancashire, England
Profession: Actor
Glenda Jackson will have been 88 years old today.

Birth Year: 1936
Place of Birth: Birkenhead, England
Profession: Actress and politician
Billy Joel is 75 years old today.

Birth Year: 1949
Place of Birth: New York City, United States
Profession: Singer, songwriter and pianist
Dave Gahan is 62 years old today.

Birth Year: 1962
Place of Birth: Epping, Essex, England
Profession: Singer
Paul Heaton is 62 years old today.

Birth Year: 1962
Place of Birth: Bromborough, Cheshire, England
Profession: Singer and songwriter
Rosario Dawson is 45 years old today.

Birth Year: 1979
Place of Birth: New York City, United States
Profession: Actress
Dana Perino is 52 years old today.

Birth Year: 1972
Place of Birth: Evanston, Wyoming, United States
Profession: Political commentator, author, and the 26th White House Press Secretary