- Dec 2 Sylvia Syms, American jazz singer (Hello Dolly, Dream Girl, Them There Eyes), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 1992)
- Dec 8 Rufo I Wever, Aruban pianist and composer (Ca'i Organ), born in Oranjestad, Aruba (d. 1977)
- Dec 11 [Dámaso] Pérez Prado, Cuban bandleader and musician, born in Matanzas, Cuba (d. 1989)
- Dec 13 Dave Street [Patrick Devlin], American actor and singer (Moonrise, I Surrender Dear, Broadway Open House), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 1971)
- Dec 17 Louis Salvador Palange, composer
- Dec 18 Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, American blues, jazz, and R&B alto saxophonist, born in Houston, Texas (d. 1988)
- Dec 21 Andre Eglevsky, Russian-born ballet dancer & teacher (Limelight), born in Moscow, Russia (d. 1977)
- Dec 31 Joan McCracken, American actress, dancer and comedian (Claudie Story of a Marriage), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 1961)
About December 1917
How Old? 103 years old
Generation: Greatest Generation
Leap Year: No
Chinese Zodiac: Snake
Star Signs: Sagittarius (Nov 22 - Dec 21), Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 19)