May 7, 1939

1939Sidney Altman, Canadian-American biologist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (died 2022)^[†]

Sidney Altman was a Canadian-American molecular biologist, who was the Sterling Professor of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and Chemistry at Yale University. In 1989, he shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Thomas R. Cech for their work on the catalytic properties of RNA.

1939Ruggero Deodato, Italian actor, director, and screenwriter (died 2022)^[†]

Ruggero Deodato was an Italian film director, screenwriter, and actor.

1939Ruud Lubbers, Dutch economist and politician, Prime Minister of the Netherlands (died 2018)^[†]

Rudolphus Franciscus Marie "Ruud" Lubbers was a Dutch politician, diplomat and businessman who served as prime minister of the Netherlands from 1982 to 1994, and as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from 2001 to 2005. He was a member of the Catholic People's Party (KVP), which later merged to become the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) party.

1939Johnny Maestro, American pop/doo-wop singer (died 2010)^[†]

John Peter Mastrangelo, known as Johnny Maestro, was an American pop singer. He was the lead vocalist for the doo-wop group The Crests, whose song "16 Candles" went to number two on the Billboard Hot 100. He later led The Brooklyn Bridge, who are best known for their cover of the Jimmy Webb song "Worst That Could Happen".