Today's celebrity birthdays: May 23, 2026

Happy birthday to entertainers like Joan Collins, H. Jon Benjamin, and Ryan Coogler! Keep on reading to see who else is celebrating their birthday and some career highlights!

Celebrity birthday highlights for May 23 2026:

Actress Joan Collins (1933) earned the nickname Britain's Bad Girl with films like "Land of the Pharaohs" and "The Stud" before reaching iconic status as scheming ex-wife Alexis Carrington on "Dynasty." She made her Broadway debut in "Private Lives," published bestselling memoirs and glitzy novels including "Prime Time," and was named a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

Comedian Drew Carey (1958) parlayed stand-up appearances on "The Tonight Show" into the lead role on ABC's "The Drew Carey Show." He hosted the U.S. version of "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" and currently hosts "The Price Is Right."

Actress Melissa McBride (1965) appeared in "The Mist" before joining AMC's "The Walking Dead" as Carol Peletier and winning back-to-back Saturn Awards for the role. She has reprised the role on the spinoff "The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon" and serves as executive producer on its second season "The Book of Carol."

Actor H. Jon Benjamin (1966) voiced Coach John McGuirk on "Home Movies" and Ben on "Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist" before becoming a voice-acting fixture as Sterling Archer on FX's "Archer" and Bob Belcher on Fox's "Bob's Burgers." He reprised Bob in "The Bob's Burgers Movie" and provided the voice of the protagonist in "Boy Kills World."

TV host Ken Jennings (1974) racked up 74 consecutive "Jeopardy!" wins and $2.52 million in 2004, the longest winning streak in the show's history. He took home the "Jeopardy!" Greatest of All Time tournament, was named permanent host of the show, and has written more than a dozen books including "Brainiac," "Maphead," and "100 Places to See After You Die."

Director Ryan Coogler (1986) won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance for "Fruitvale Station" before relaunching the Rocky franchise with "Creed" and directing "Black Panther," the first superhero film nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. He returned for "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" and won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for "Sinners."

Other celebs celebrating birthdays today:

Actress Barbara Barrie (1931), Chess player Anatoly Karpov (1951), Baseball manager Buck Showalter (1956), Author Mitch Albom (1958), Actress Lea DeLaria (1958), Comedian Bob Mortimer (1959), Actor Linden Ashby (1960), Actress-model Karen Duffy (1962), Director Tom Tykwer (1965), Drummer Phil Selway of Radiohead (1967), Actress Laurel Holloman (1968), Drummer Matt Flynn of Maroon 5 (1970), Playwright-actor John Pollono (1972), Race car driver Rubens Barrichello (1972), Singer Maxwell (1973), Singer Jewel (1974), Actor LaMonica Garrett (1975), Actress Kelly Monaco (1976), Comedian Richard Ayoade (1977), Comedian Tim Robinson (1981), Actor Adam Wylie (1984), Golfer Morgan Pressel (1988), Football player Aaron Donald (1991), Singer Sarah Jarosz (1991)