Notable Birthdays for December 5

Those born on this date include:

- Pope Julius II in 1443
- Martin Van Buren, eighth president of the United States, in 1782
- poet Christina Rossetti in 1830
- U.S. Army Gen. George Custer in 1839
- film director Fritz Lang in 1890
- German physicist Werner Heisenberg in 1901
- Walt Disney in 1901
- U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., in 1902
- film director Otto Preminger in 1905
- Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1927
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Little Richard, born Richard Penniman, in 1932
- author Joan Didion in 1934
- writer Calvin Trillin in 1935 (age 87)
- songwriter J.J. Cale 1938
- opera tenor Jose Carreras in 1946 (age 76)
- football Hall of Fame member Jim Plunkett in 1947 (age 75)
- comedian/actress Margaret Cho in 1968 (age 54)
- actor Catherine Tate in 1969 (age 53)
- actor Kali Rocha in 1971 (age 51)
- actor Paula Patton in 1975 (age 47)
- actor Lauren London in 1984 (age 38)
- actor Frankie Muniz in 1985 (age 37).