On This Day

Famous Birthdays on December 17

  • 1239 Kujō Yoritsugu, 5th shōgun of the Kamakura shogunate of Japan (d. 1256)
  • 1267 Emperor Go-Uda, 91st Emperor of Japan (d. 1324)
  • 1554 Ernest of Bavaria, Prince-elector-archbishop of the Archbishopric of Cologne, born in Munich (d. 1612)
  • 1619 Prince Rupert of the Rhine, German soldier, Commander in the English Civil War and first Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company, born in Prague (d. 1682)
  • 1632 Anthony Wood, English antiquarian, born in Oxford, England (d. 1695)
  • 1685 Thomas Tickell, English writer and poet, born in Bridekirk, Cockermouth, England (d. 1740)
  • 1706 Émilie du Châtelet, French mathematician and physicist (Institutions de Physique; translation of Newton's Principia), born in Paris, Kingdom of France (d. 1749)
  • 1706 Gabrielle Chôtelet [La belle Emilie], French writer (Voltaire), born in Paris (d. 1749)
  • 1734 Georg Peter Weimar, German cantor and composer, born in Stotternheim (d. 1800)
  • 1734 Maria I of Portugal, Queen of Portugal and the Algarves, born in Ribeira Palace, Lisbon, Kingdom of Portugal (d. 1816)
  • 1734 William Floyd, American soldier who signed the US Declaration of Independence, born in Brookhaven, Province of New York (d. 1821)
  • 1749 Domenico Cimarosa, Italian composer (Il Matrimonio Segreto), born in Aversa, Italy (d. 1801)
  • 1770 Johann Friedrich Schubert, German composer, born in Rudolstadt, Germany (d. 1811)
  • 1778 Humphry Davy, English chemist, studied electro-chemistry, invented the Davy lamp), born in Penzance, Cornwall, England (d. 1829)
  • 1796 Thomas Chandler Haliburton, Canadian novelist (The Clockmaker; or, The Sayings and Doings of Samuel Slick of Slickville), born in Windsor, Canada (d. 1865)
  • 1797 Joseph Henry, American scientist and pioneer of electromagnetism, born in Albany, New York (d. 1878)
  • 1800 Gergely Czuczor, Hungarian-Czech poet and translator (Great Hung dictionary), born in Andód (d. 1866)
  • 1807 John Greenleaf Whittier, American poet (Snow-bound), born in Haverhill, Massachusetts (d. 1892)
  • 1819 Samuel Jones, American Major General (Confederate Army), born in Powhatan County, Virginia (d. 1887)
  • 1820 Frederick Tracy Dent, American General (Union Army), born in St. Louis, Missouri (d. 1892)
  • 1821 Frederick West Lander, American poet and Brigadier General (Union Army), born in Salem, Massachusetts (d. 1862)
  • 1824 John Kerr, Scottish physicist and pioneer in the field of electro-optics (electro-visually Kerr-effect), born in Ardrossan, Scotland (d. 1907)
  • 1824 Manning Ferguson Force, American lawyer, judge and Brevet Major General (Union Army), born in Washington, D.C. (d. 1899)
  • 1824 Thomas Starr King, American Unitarian clergyman (Christianity & Humanity), born in New York City (d. 1864)
  • 1830 Jules de Goncourt, French novelist (Germinie), wrote with his brother Edmond de Goncourt, born in Paris (d. 1870)
  • 1833 James T. Holtzclaw, American Brigadier General (Confederate Army), born in McDonough, Georgia (d. 1893)
  • 1835 Alexander Agassiz, American biologist and geologist, born in Neuchâtel, Switzerland (d. 1910)
  • 1838 Berthold Tours, Dutch-English composer, born in Rotterdam, Netherlands (d. 1897)
  • 1840 C. F. E. Horneman, Danish composer, born in Copenhagen (d. 1906)
  • 1842 Marius Sophus Lie, Norwegian mathematician (continuous groups), born in Nordfjordeid, Norway (d. 1899)
  • 1847 Émile Faguet, French writer and critic (d. 1916)
  • 1848 Frederick Grant Gleason, American composer, born in Middletown, Connecticut (d. 1903)
  • 1852 Herbert Beerbohm Tree, British actor and theatre manager (King John, Trilby), born in Kensington, London (d. 1917)

Émile RouxÉmile Roux (1853-1933)

French physician, bacteriologist, immunologist who developed the 1st diphtheria vaccine and co-founded the Pasteur Institute, born in Confolens, France

Émile Roux
  • 1859 Paul César Helleu, French artist (d. 1927)
  • 1861 Fritz Volbach, German conductor, musicologist and composer (Raffael), born in Wipperfürth, Germany (d. 1940)
  • 1863 Ion Vidu, Romanian composer and conductor, born in Mânerău, Arad district (d. 1931)
  • 1864 (John) Felix Körling, Swedish composer and conductor, born in Kristdala, Sweden (d. 1937)
  • 1869 Nikolai Ivanovich Kazanli, Russian composer, born in Tiraspol, Russian Empire (now Moldova) (d. 1916)
  • 1873 Ford Madox Ford [Hueffer], British novelist (The Good Soldier), critic, and journal editor (The Transatlantic), born in Merton, Surrey, England (d. 1939)

Mackenzie KingMackenzie King (1874-1950)

10th Prime Minister of Canada (1921-30, and 1935-48), born in Berlin, Ontario

Mackenzie King
  • 1881 Aubrey Faulkner, South African cricket all-rounder (25 Tests, 4 x 100s, TS 204; Transvaal), born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa (d. 1930)
  • 1881 Jan Sluyters, Dutch painter (Moderne Kunstkring), born in s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands (d. 1957)
  • 1883 Raimu [Jules Auguste Cesar Muraire], French actor (The Baker's Wife, Marius, Fanny), born in Toulon, Var, France (d. 1946)
  • 1887 Hermine Reuss, Empress of Germany and Duchess of Bohemia (d. 1947)
  • 1887 Josef Lada, Czech painter (d. 1957)
  • 1891 Robertson Hare, English actor (All Gas and Gaiters. Our Girl Friday, Banana Ridge), born in London (d. 1979)
  • 1892 Sam Barry, American collegiate basketball, football and baseball coach (University of Southern California, 1929-50), born in Aberdeen, South Dakota (d. 1950)
  • 1893 Erwin Piscator, German stage director (Der Stellvertreter), born in Greifenstein-Ulm, German Empire (d. 1966)
  • 1894 Arthur Fiedler, American conductor (Boston Pops), born in Boston, Massachusetts (d. 1979)
  • 1894 David Butler, American director (April in Paris, Calamity Jane), born in San Francisco, California (d. 1979)
  • 1894 Hans Henny Jahnn, German playwright, born in Stellingen, Germany (d. 1959)
  • 1894 Hans Kramers, Dutch theoretical physicist (quantum mechanics), born in Rotterdam, Netherlands (d. 1952)
  • 1894 Willem Schermerhorn, Prime Minister of the Netherlands (1945-46), born in Akersloot, Netherlands (d. 1977)

Gerald PattersonGerald Patterson (1895-1967)

Australian tennis player (Wimbledon 1919, 21; Australian C'ships 1927), born in Melbourne, Victoria

Gerald Patterson
  • 1900 Katina Paxinou, Greek actress (La femme nue), born in Piraeus, Greece (d. 1973)
  • 1900 Lucijan Marija Škerjajanc, Slovene pianist, composer, conductor, and teacher, born in Graz, Austria (d. 1973)
  • 1900 Mary Cartwright, English mathematician, born in Aynho, United Kingdom (d. 1998)
  • 1902 Albert Drach, Austrian-Jewish writer, born in Vienna (d. 1995)
  • 1903 Erskine Caldwell, American novelist (Tobacco Road, God's Little Acre), born in Moreland, Georgia (d. 1987)
  • 1903 Ray Noble, English bandleader, comedian and actor (The Very Thought of You), born in Brighton, Sussex, England (d. 1978)
  • 1904 Paul Cadmus, American etcher and painter (Sailors & Floozies), born in NYC, New York (d. 1999)
  • 1905 Érico Lopes Veríssimo, Brazilian writer (d. 1975)
  • 1905 Iosif Kheifits [Joseph Heifitz], Belarusian-Soviet film director (Member of the Government), born in Minsk, (d. 1995)
  • 1905 Simo Häyhä, Finnish sniper (d. 2002)
  • 1906 Fernando Lopes-Graça, Portuguese composer (Rustic Suite), born in Tomar, Portugal (d. 1994)

Willard LibbyWillard Libby (1908-1980)

American chemist who developed radiocarbon dating (Nobel 1960), born in Grand Valley, Colorado

Willard Libby
  • 1908 William Brocklesby Wordsworth, English composer, born in London, England (d. 1988)
  • 1910 (Donnell) "Spade" Cooley, American Western swing fiddler, bandleader, and television personality ("Shame On You"), born in Grand Oklahoma (d. 1969)
  • 1910 (Melvin) "Sy" Oliver, American jazz arranger, songwriter (Jimmie Lunceford; Tommy Dorsey - "Yes, Indeed!"), and bandleader, born in Battle Creek, Michigan (d. 1988) [1]
  • 1910 Keki Tarapore, Indian cricketer (0-72 in his only Test for India), born in Bombay, India (d. 1986)
  • 1911 William Roerick, American actor (The Wasp Woman, Guiding Light), born in Hoboken, New Jersey (d. 1995)
  • 1914 Syed Mushtaq Ali, Indian cricketer (prolific batsman of 30's & 40's), born in Indore, British India (d. 2005)
  • 1915 André Claveau, French pop singer and actor (Dors, mon amour), born in Paris; (d. 2003)
  • 1916 Penelope Fitzgerald, English writer (d. 2000)
  • 1916 Toon Hermans, Dutch poet (Kolderliedjes), born in Sittard, Netherlands (d. 2000)
  • 1917 Louis Palange, American arranger, classical music and film score composer (Hollywood Panorama; King Dinosaur), and conductor, born in Oakland, California (d. 1979)
  • 1920 Kenneth E. Iverson, Canadian computer scientist (d. 2004)
  • 1922 Alan Voorhees, American engineer and urban planner (d. 2005)
  • 1922 Hubert H A Beckers, Curacaoan opera singer
  • 1923 Jaroslav Pelikan, American historian (d. 2006)
  • 1924 Sándor Lakatos, Hungarian violinist, bandleader, and actor (mostly as a gypsy violinist), born in Budapest, Hungary (d. 1994)
  • 1925 Rijk de Gooyer, Dutch actor, comedian and singer (Black Rider; Rififi in Amsterdam), born in Utrecht, Netherlands (d. 2011)
  • 1926 Jeremy Brooks, English writer (Jampot Smith), born in Southampton (d. 1994)
  • 1926 Patrice Wymore, American actress (The Big Tree), born in Miltonvale, Kansas (d. 2014)
  • 1926 Ray Jablonski, American baseball player (d. 1985)
  • 1926 Stephen Lewis, British stage and screen comic actor, screenwriter and playwright (In The Buses - "Blakey"; Last of the Summer Wine - "Smiler"), born in Poplar, England (d. 2015)
  • 1927 Richard Long, American actor (Prof-Nanny and the Professor), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1974)
  • 1928 Eli Beeding, Sherman, TX, Air Force Captain and rocket test pilot, (d. 2013)
  • 1928 Marilyn Beck, newspaper columnist

William SafireWilliam Safire (1929-2009)

American political columnist (NY Times) and speech writer (Nixon), born in NYC, New York

William Safire
  • 1930 Armin Mueller-Stahl, German painter, author and actor (Kafka, Music Box), born in Tilsit, Germany

Bob GuccioneBob Guccione (1930-2010)

American publisher (Penthouse, Omni), born in Brooklyn, New York

Bob Guccione
  • 1930 Julia Meade [Kunz], American actress and TV hostess (Spotlight Playhouse), born in Boston, Massachusetts (d. 2016)
  • 1930 Makoto Moroi, Jpansese composer (Yamauba; The Vision of Cain), born in Tokyo, Japan (d. 2013)
  • 1931 Dave Madden, Canadian-born American actor (Charlotte's Web, Alice, The Partridge Family), born in Sarnia, Ontario (d. 2014)
  • 1931 Yvonne Keuls [Bamberg], Dutch writer (Jan Rap & Co)
  • 1933 Bruce Morrison, cricketer (one Test NZ v England 1963)
  • 1933 Paul Snoek [Edm Schietekat], Belgian poet
  • 1933 Stefan Florenski, Polish soccer defender (11 caps; Górnik Zabrze), born in Gleiwitz, Poland (d. 2020)
  • 1934 Ray Wilson, English footballer
  • 1935 Cal Ripken Sr, American baseball manager (Baltimore Orioles 1987-88; World Series 1983 [coach]), born in Aberdeen, Maryland (d. 1999)
  • 1935 George Lindsey, American actor (The Andy Griffith Show), (d. 2012)
  • 1936 Frank Martinus Arion [F Efraim M], Antilles, writer (Double Play)

Pope FrancisPope Francis (86 years old)

1936 Catholic Pope (2013-) 1st Jesuit pope, 1st from the Americas and 1st non-European pope since Syrian Gregory III in 741, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Pope Francis
  • 1936 Tommy Steele [Thomas Hicks], English pop singer, 1st British Rock and Roll star, born in London
  • 1937 Art Neville, American funk and R&B singer, keyboard player, and songwriter (Neville Brothers; The Funky Meters), born in New Orleans, Louisiana (d. 2019)
  • 1937 Calvin Waller, US Army general (d. 1996)
  • 1937 John Kennedy Toole, American novelist (d. 1969)
  • 1937 Kerry Packer, Australian businessman (d. 2005)
  • 1938 Carlo Little, English drummer (d. 2005)
  • 1938 Peter Snell, New Zealand athlete (Olympic gold 800m 1960, 64; 1,500m 1964), born in Opunake, New Zealand (d. 2019)
  • 1939 Charles V. Bush, African-American pioneer (1st African-American US Air Force Academy Graduate and US Supreme Court Page), (d. 2012)
  • 1939 Eddie Kendricks, American singer-songwriter (The Temptations - "The Way You Do the Things You Do"; "Just My Imagination"), born in Union Springs, Alabama (d. 1992)
  • 1939 James Booker, American R&B musician (Gonzo), born in New Orleans, Louisiana
  • 1939 Novella Nelson, American actress (Antwone Fisher, Purlie, Chiefs), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 2017)
  • 1940 Kåre Valebrokk, Norwegian journalist
  • 1941 David A. Gall, Canadian thoroughbred Hall of Fame jockey (US Champion Jockey by wins 1979, 81; first to ride 8 winners on single US race card), born in Rose Valley, Saskatchewan (d. 2021)

Muhammadu BuhariMuhammadu Buhari (80 years old)

1942 Nigerian military leader and politician (President of Nigeria 2015-), born in Daura, Katsina State

Muhammadu Buhari
  • 1942 Paul Butterfield, American blues singer and harmonica player (Paul Butterfield Blues Band; Better Days), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1987)
  • 1943 Dave Dee [Harman], British pop singer-songwriter (Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich - "Bend It!"), born in Salisbury, Wiltshire (d. 2009)
  • 1943 Ron Geesin, Scottish musician and avant-garde, symphonic rock, and film score composer, born in Stevenston, Ayrshire, Scotland
  • 1943 William Brooks, composer, educator, and musicologist
  • 1944 Bernard Hill, English actor (Yosser Hughes-Boys from the Blackstuff, King Théoden-The Lord of the Rings), born in Manchester, England
  • 1944 Ference Bene, Hungarian record 12 soccer goals (Olympic gold 1964)
  • 1944 Giedrė Lukšaitė-Mrázková, Lithuanian–Czech harpsichord player, organist, and educator, born in Kaunas, Lithuania
  • 1944 Jack L[aurence] Chalker, American sci-fi author (Saga of Well World)
  • 1945 Chris Matthews, American journalist
  • 1945 Christopher Cazenove, England, actor (Ben-Dynasty)
  • 1945 Ernie Hudson, Benton Harbor MI, actor (Ghostbusters, Weeds)
  • 1945 Jacqueline Wilson, English author
  • 1946 Albert Padmore, cricketer (WI off-spinner mid-70s)

Eugene LevyEugene Levy (76 years old)

1946 Canadian comic actor, and writer (SCTV; American Pie; Schitt's Creek), born in Hamilton, Ontario

Eugene Levy
  • 1946 Simon Bates, British disk jockey and radio presenter (BBC Radio 1, Classic FM), born in Birmingham, England
  • 1947 Jim Hodder, American drummer (Steely Dan, 1972-74), born in Bethpage, New York (d. 1990)
  • 1947 Marilyn Hassett, American actress (The Other Side of the Mountain), born in Los Angeles, California
  • 1947 Wes Studi, Native American actor (Last of the Mohicans), born in Nofire Hollow, Oklahoma
  • 1948 James Alexander, American R&B bassist (The Bar-Kays - "Soul Finger"; "Shaft)
  • 1948 Jim Bonfanti, American drummer (Raspberries - "Go All the Way"), born in Windber, Pennsylvania
  • 1949 Paul Rodgers, English-Canadian rock singer and musician (Bad Company - "Feel Like Makin' Love", "Rock and Roll Fantasy"; The Firm; + Queen), born in Middlesbrough, England
  • 1949 Sotiris Kaiafas, Cypriot footballer
  • 1950 Carlton "Carly" Barrett, Jamaican reggae drummer (The Upsetters; Bob Marley & Wailers), born in Kingston, Jamaica (d. 1987)
  • 1950 Laurence F. Johnson, American educator
  • 1951 Tatyana Kazankina, USSR, middle distance runner (Olympic gold 1976)
  • 1951 Wanda Hutchinson, American pop-R&B singer (The Emotions - "So I Can Love You"; "Best Of My Love"), born in Chicago, Illinois
  • 1952 Hans Alders, Dutch minister of environment (PvdA)
  • 1953 Barry Livingston, American actor (My Three Sons -"Ernie"), born in Los Angeles, California

Bill PullmanBill Pullman (69 years old)

1953 American actor (Sommersby, League of their Own, Independence Day), born in Hornell, New York

Bill Pullman
  • 1953 Ikue Mori, Japanese experimental drummer and composer, born in Tokyo
  • 1953 Mark Gane, rocker (M+M), born in Toronto, Ontario
  • 1953 Samuel Hadida, film distributor
  • 1954 Kenneth Frazier, American executive (1st African American to head major pharmaceutical company - Merck), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • 1956 Amado Carrillo Fuentes, Mexican drug lord (Juárez Cartel), born in Guamuchilito, Mexico (d. 1997)
  • 1956 Peter Farrelly, American film director
  • 1957 Bob Ojeda, pitcher (NY Mets)
  • 1957 Masako Natsume [Odate], Japanese actress and model (Tripitaka in "Monkey"), born in Roppongi, Tokyo d. 1985)
  • 1958 Mike Mills, American rock bassist (R.E.M. - "The One I Love"), born in Berkeley, California
  • 1959 Bob Stinson, American rock guitarist (The Replacements - "Pleased To Meet Me"), born in Waconia, Minnesota (d. 1995)
  • 1959 Tammie Green, American golfer (du Maurier Classic 1989), born in Somerset Ohio
  • 1960 Moreno Argentin, Italian cyclist
  • 1961 Sara Dallin, British musician (Bananarama), born in Bristol, England
  • 1962 Giulla Boschi, Italian actress (Act of Contrition, Bonus Malus)
  • 1962 Paul Dobson, English footballer
  • 1962 Rocco Mediate, American golfer (Senior PGA C'ship 2016; 6 PGA Tour titles), born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania
  • 1964 Eric Brown, actor (Buzz-Mama's Family), born in NYC, New York
  • 1964 Frank Musil, Pardubice Cze, NHL defenseman (Ottawa Senators)
  • 1964 Ginger Wildheart [David Leslie Walls], British singer-songwriter and guitarist (The Wildhearts), born in Suth Shields, Tyne & Wear, England
  • 1964 Joe Wolf, NBA forward/center (Orlando Magic, Denver Nuggets)
  • 1964 Michele Tafoya, American sportscaster
  • 1964 Tyrone Braxton, NFL safety (Denver Broncos-Super Bowl 32)
  • 1965 Craig Berube, Calahoo, NHL left wing (Washington Capitals)
  • 1965 Jeff Grayer, NBA guard (Charlotte Hornets, Olympic bronze 1988)
  • 1966 Christopher A. Wray, American lawyer, F.B.I. Director (2017-), born in NYC, New York
  • 1966 Hans Visser, Dutch soccer player (MVV, FC Utrecht)
  • 1966 Kristiina Ojuland, Estonian politician
  • 1966 Valeri Liukin, Soviet gymnast
  • 1967 Gigi D'Agostino, Italian DJ and musician
  • 1967 Vincent Damphousse, NHL center (Montreal Canadiens), born in Montreal, Quebec
  • 1968 Andrey Golovatiuk, Russian politician
  • 1968 Curtis Pride, outfielder (Detroit Tigers), born in Washington, D.C.
  • 1968 Jeff[rey] Klepacki, Kearny NJ, rower (Olympics 1992, 96)
  • 1969 Chuck Liddell, American mixed martial artist
  • 1969 Marc Davis, Oceanside California, 3K steeplechase runner (Goodwill-gold-94)
  • 1969 Rob Maas, Dutch soccer player (Feyenoord)
  • 1970 Benedictine, a St. Bernard dog who grew to become the heaviest known dog (137 kg)
  • 1970 DJ Homicide [Craig Bullock], American musician, rapper, DJ, and record producer (Sugar Ray), born in Pasadena, California
  • 1970 Michael Mols, soccer player (FC Twente)
  • 1971 Alyson Habetz, Crowley LA, female pitcher (Colo Silver Bullets)
  • 1971 Antoine Rigaudeau, French basketball player
  • 1971 Carl Reeves, NFL defensive end (Chicago Bears)
  • 1971 Claire Forlani, British actress (Mallrats, Meet Joe Black, Hawaii Five-0), born in Twickenham, London
  • 1971 Nikki McCray, Collierville Tenn, basketball guard (Olympic gold 1996)
  • 1971 Sari Kristiina Fisk, ice hockey defenseman (Finland, Olympics 1998)
  • 1971 Tony Richardson, American football fullback (Pro Bowl 2003, 04, 07; KC Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings; Walter Payton Award 2010 NY Jets), born in Frankfurt, Germany
  • 1972 Brian Williams, NFL linebacker (Green Bay Packers-Super Bowl 31)
  • 1972 Dewayne Washington, cornerback (Minnesota Vikings)
  • 1972 Don Davis, linebacker (New Orleans Saints)
  • 1972 Ivan Pedroso, Cuba, long jumper (Olympic 4th 1992)
  • 1972 John Abraham, Indian actor
  • 1972 Laurie Holden, American actress (The Walking Dead), born in Los Angeles, California


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