Celebrities born on this day, and famous people who are celebrating their birthdays today include Pope John Paul II, Wendy Kimani, Evelyn Mase, and Walter Sisulu. Other notable personalities and legends on today’s famous birthday list for May 18, 2026 include Tina Fey, Nadia Nakai, Nicholas II of Russia, Bernadette Chirac, Olivia Harrison, and Yannick Noah.
Wondering whose birthday is it today? We have a list of legends and notable individuals whose birthday is today. They include famous TV personalities, films and TV actors and actresses, influencers and social media celebrities, sportspeople, and politicians. Moreover, they are from all over the world and of all ages, including child actors and child celebrities.
Today's famous birthdays list for May 18, 2026
Died aged 84
Head of the Catholic Church & sovereign of the Vatican City from October 16, 1978 until his death on April 2, 2005
36 years old
South African singer, rapper, and TV personality who stars in Netflix reality show Young, Famous & African
78 years old
American author, film producer, and widow of English rock band the Beatles lead guitarist George Harrison
93 years old
French politician and widow of Jacques Chirac, the former president of France from 1995 to 2007
40 years old
Kenyan singer, actress famous as first runners-up in 2nd second season of Tusker Project Fame in 2008 and known for her songs Haiwi Haiwi, Chali
Died aged 90
South African anti-apartheid activist and ANC member who was imprisoned on Robben Island for 25 years
56 years old
American actress and comedian who starred as Liz Lemon in sitcom 30 Rock, Ms. Sharon Norbury in 2004 film Mean Girls
Died aged 81
South African nurse and 1st wife of anti-apartheid activist and president Nelson Mandela from 1944 to 1958
66 years old
French former tennis player and singer who won the French Open in 1983, and doubles titles in the 1984, 1985 and 1987
Died aged 50
Emperor of Russia from 1 November 1894 until his abdication in 1917
What is the date today?
Today is Monday the 18th of May. It is the 138th day of 2026.
There are 227 days until the end of the year, and today's zodiac sign is Taurus in Western astrology.
Celebrity Birthdays by Month
Here are more notable personalities by the month they were born. Famous January birthday legends include U.S. civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill, both of whom delivered some of the most famous motivational speeches in history.
It is also the birth month of Mr. Bean actor Rowan Atkinson, former U.S First Lady Michelle Obama, and talk show queen Oprah Winfrey. Legendary reggae singer Bob Marley was born in February, while famous Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong'o, physicist Albert Einstein and singer Lady Gaga are famous March birthdays.
The fourth month is the birth month of Queen Elizabeth II, and martial artist legends Jackie Chan and Jet Li. Notable people born in May include the famous Americans Marco Rubio (U.S. secretary of state), and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.
Notable Personalities born in June, July and August
Famous June birthdays include president Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, while famous African and renowned South African anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela, English actress Helen Mirren, and The Terminator actor Arnold Schwarzenegger top the list of July birthdays personalities.
Presidents Barack Obama & Bill Clinton, legendary athlete Usain Bolt, and musicians Whitney Houston & Michael Jackson were born in August.
September, October, November and December prominent birthdays
Current head of the Catholic Church Pope Leo XIV, singer Beyoncé, and actresses Zendaya, Idris Elba and Sydney Sweeney are September celebrities, while Titanic actress Kate Winslet and TV personality Kim Kardashian were born in October.
November has Bruce Lee, Scarlett Johansson, and former U.S. president Joe Biden, while in December we have French footballer Kylian Mbappé, singers Christina Aguilera and Nicki Minaj, and the late Pope Francis, among others.
