Famous Birthdays on December 17

Q: Who was born on December 17?

Famous people born on December 17 include: Kujō Yoritsugu, Emperor Go-Uda of Japan (died 1324), Ernest of Bavaria, Abdul Rahim Khan-I-Khana, Pedro Téllez-Girón.

Q: What is Ken Hitchcock known for?

Ken Hitchcock, Canadian ice hockey player and coach

1951 — Ken Hitchcock

Canadian ice hockey player and coach

December 17 has seen 248 notable people enter the world across recorded history — from 1239 – 2002. Below are the most significant names born on this date.

By thisDay.info Editorial Team · December 17 — Wikipedia

Famous Birthdays 248 people 1239 – 2002

Did you know

Hitchcock became a major league coach in January 1996 when the Dallas Stars named him coach with 43 games remaining in the season

Did you know

The following season was the start of five elite years for the team, where they won five consecutive division championships to go along with reaching the Conference Finals in 1998, 1999, and 2000

Did you know

The Stars advanced to the Stanley Cup in 1999, which they won in six games over the Buffalo Sabres

Did you know

He was quickly hired by the Columbus Blue Jackets that year and coached four seasons, where he helped them reach their first Stanley Cup playoffs in 2009; he was fired the following season

Did you know

Louis Blues in 2011, and in his first season he led them to their first division title in twelve years

Kujō Yoritsugu

Japanese shōgun (died 1256)

Kujō Yoritsugu , also known as Fujiwara no Yoritsugu , was the fifth shōgun of the Kamakura shogunate of Japan. His father was the 4th Kamakura shōgun, Kujō Yoritsune.

1239

Emperor Go-Uda of Japan (died 1324)

Emperor Go-Uda was the 91st emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1274 through 1287.

1267

Ernest of Bavaria

Roman Catholic bishop (died 1612)

Wittelsbach-Hapsburg aristocrat Ernest of Bavaria was Prince-Elector-Archbishop of the Archbishopric of Cologne and, as such, Archchancellor of the Holy Roman Empire and Duke of Westphalia, from 1583 to 1612 as…

1554

Abdul Rahim Khan-I-Khana

poet in Mughal Empire (died 1627)

Khanzada Mirza Khan Abdul Rahim, popularly known as simply Rahim and titled Khan-i-Khanan, was a poet who lived in India during the rule of Mughal emperor Akbar, who was Rahim's mentor. He was one of the nine important…

1556

Pedro Téllez-Girón

3rd Duke of Osuna, Spanish nobleman and politician (died 1624)

Pedro Téllez-Girón, 3rd Duke of Osuna was a Spanish nobleman and politician. He was the 2nd Marquis of Peñafiel, 7th Count of Ureña, Spanish Viceroy of Sicily (1611–1616), Viceroy of Naples (1616–1620), a Knight of the…

1574

Roger L'Estrange

English pamphleteer and author (died 1704)

Sir Roger L'Estrange was an English pamphleteer, author, courtier and press censor. Throughout his life L'Estrange was frequently mired in controversy and acted as a staunch ideological defender of King Charles II's…

1616

Prince Rupert of the Rhine (died 1682)

Prince Rupert of the Rhine, Duke of Cumberland was an English–German army officer, admiral, scientist, and colonial governor. He first rose to prominence as a Royalist cavalry commander during the English Civil War.…

1619

Anthony Wood

English historian and author (died 1695)

Anthony Wood, who styled himself Anthony à Wood in his later writings, was an English antiquary. He was responsible for a celebrated Hist. and Antiq. of the Universitie of Oxon.

1632

Thomas Tickell

English poet (died 1740)

Thomas Tickell was a minor English poet and man of letters.

1685

Charles-Louis Mion

French composer and educator (died 1775)

Charles-Louis Mion was a French composer of the Baroque era. He was the grand-nephew of Michel Richard Delalande who also taught him music. Between 1710 and 1718 he was a choirboy at the Sainte-Chapelle du Palais. Later…

1699

Émilie du Châtelet

French mathematician and physicist (died 1749)

Gabrielle Émilie Le Tonnelier de Breteuil, Marquise du Châtelet was a French mathematician and physicist.

1706

Maria I of Portugal (died 1816)

Dona Maria I, also known as Maria the Pious in Portugal and Maria the Mad in Brazil, was Queen of Portugal from 24 February 1777 until her death in 1816. Maria was the first undisputed queen regnant of Portugal and the…

1734

Domenico Cimarosa

Italian composer and educator (died 1801)

Domenico Cimarosa was an Italian composer of the Neapolitan School and of the Classical period. He wrote more than eighty operas, the best known of which is Il matrimonio segreto (1792); most of his operas are comedies.…

1749

Humphry Davy

English chemist and physicist (died 1829)

Sir Humphry Davy, 1st Baronet was a British chemist and inventor who invented the Davy lamp and an early form of arc lamp. He is also remembered for isolating, by using electricity, several elements for the first time:…

1778

Thomas Chandler Haliburton

Canadian judge and politician (died 1865)

Thomas Chandler Haliburton was a Nova Scotia-born judge, author, novelist, and Conservative MP in Britain. He was the first internationally bestselling fiction author from what is now Canada.

1796

Joseph Henry

American physicist and engineer (died 1878)

Joseph Henry was an American physicist and inventor who served as the first secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. He was the secretary for the National Institute for the Promotion of Science, a precursor of the…

1797

Wilhelmine von Wrochem

German flutist, singer and actress (died 1839)

Wilhelmine von Wrochem was a German flutist, soprano opera singer and stage actress.

1798

John Greenleaf Whittier

American poet and activist (died 1892)

John Greenleaf Whittier was an American Quaker poet and advocate of the abolition of slavery in the United States. Frequently listed as one of the fireside poets, he was influenced by the Scottish poet Robert Burns.…

1807

Vilhelm Petersen

Danish painter (died 1880)

Vilhelm Peter Carl Petersen was a Danish landscape painter. He was one of the first Danish landscape painters to work on Bornholm and in the moorlands of Jutland. Small fishing villages were especially attractive to…

1812

Alexander Wassilko von Serecki

Austrian lawyer and politician (died 1893)

Freiherr Alexander Wassilko von Serecki was an Austro-Hungarian ethnic Romanian statesman, Landeshauptmann of the Duchy of Bukovina and member of the Herrenhaus, the Upper House of the Imperial Council of Austria.

1827

Jules de Goncourt

French author and critic (died 1870)

Jules Alfred Huot de Goncourt was a French writer, who published books together with his brother Edmond. Jules was born and died in Paris. His death at the age of 39 was at Auteuil of a stroke brought on by syphilis.

1830

Alexander Emanuel Agassiz

Swiss-American ichthyologist and engineer (died 1910)

Alexander Emmanuel Rodolphe Agassiz, was an American scientist and engineer. He was the son of Louis Agassiz and stepson of Elizabeth Cabot Agassiz.

1835

Nozu Michitsura

Japanese field marshal (died 1908)

Field Marshal Marquis Nozu Michitsura was a Japanese field marshal and leading figure in the early Imperial Japanese Army.

1840

Sophus Lie

Norwegian mathematician and academic (died 1899)

Marius Sophus Lie was a Norwegian mathematician. He largely created the theory of continuous symmetry and applied it to the study of geometry and differential equations. He also made substantial contributions to the…

1842

Émile Faguet

French author and critic (died 1916)

Auguste Émile Faguet was a French author and literary critic.

1847

Pierre Paul Émile Roux

French physician and immunologist, co-founded the Pasteur Institute (died 1933)

Pierre Paul Émile Roux FRS was a French physician, bacteriologist and immunologist. Roux was one of the closest collaborators of Louis Pasteur (1822–1895), a co-founder of the Pasteur Institute, and responsible for the…

1853

Eva Nansen

Norwegian mezzo-soprano singer and pioneer on women's skiing (died 1907)

Eva Helene Nansen was a celebrated Norwegian mezzo-soprano singer. She was also a pioneer of women's skiing.

1858

Paul César Helleu

French painter and illustrator (died 1927)

Paul César Helleu was a French oil painter, pastel artist, drypoint etcher, and designer, best known for his numerous portraits of beautiful society women of the Belle Époque. He also conceived the ceiling mural of…

1859

Kazys Grinius

Lithuanian physician and politician, third President of Lithuania (died 1950)

Kazys Grinius was the third President of Lithuania, holding the office from 7 June 1926 to 17 December 1926. Previously, he had served as the fifth Prime Minister of Lithuania, from 19 June 1920 until his resignation on…

1866

Ford Madox Ford

English novelist, poet, and critic (died 1939)

Ford Madox Ford was an English novelist, poet, critic and editor whose journals The English Review and The Transatlantic Review were important in the development of early 20th-century English and American literature.

1873

William Lyon Mackenzie King

Canadian economist and politician, tenth Prime Minister of Canada (died 1950)

William Lyon Mackenzie King was the tenth prime minister of Canada for three non-consecutive terms from 1921 to 1926, 1926 to 1930, and 1935 to 1948. A Liberal, he was the dominant politician in Canada from the early…

1874

Aubrey Faulkner

South African-English cricketer and coach (died 1930)

George Aubrey Faulkner was a South African cricketer who played 25 Test matches for South Africa and fought in both the Second Boer War and World War I. In cricket, he was an all-rounder who was among the best batsmen…

1881

Alison Uttley

English children's book writer (died 1976)

Alison Jane Uttley was an English writer of over 100 books. She is best known for a children's series about Little Grey Rabbit and Sam Pig. She is also remembered for a pioneering time slip novel for children, A…

1884

Josef Lada

Czech painter and illustrator (died 1957)

Josef Lada was a Czech painter, illustrator, cartoonist and writer. He was pioneer of the Czech comicbook tradition and founder of the "Czech modern fairytale" genre. He is considered one of the greatest Czech artists…

1887

Prince Joachim of Prussia (died 1920)

Prince Joachim Franz Humbert of Prussia was the youngest son and sixth child of Wilhelm II, German Emperor, by his first wife, Augusta Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein. He died by suicide at age 29. Prince Joachim was…

1890

Sam Barry

American basketball player and coach (died 1950)

Justin McCarthy "Sam" Barry was an American collegiate coach who achieved significant accomplishments in three major sports - football, baseball, and basketball. He remains one of only three coaches to lead teams to…

1892

Charles C. Banks

English captain and pilot (died 1971)

Captain Charles Chaplin Banks was a World War I flying ace credited with thirteen aerial victories. He scored a pioneering night fighter victory on 31 May 1918, when he shot down a German Friedrichshafen G bomber.

1893

Erwin Piscator

German director and producer (died 1966)

Erwin Friedrich Maximilian Piscator was a German theatre director and producer. Along with Bertolt Brecht, he was the foremost exponent of epic theatre, a form that emphasizes the socio-political content of drama,…

1893

Arthur Fiedler

American conductor (died 1979)

Arthur Fiedler was an American conductor known for his association with both the Boston Symphony and Boston Pops orchestras. With a combination of musicianship and showmanship, he made the Boston Pops one of the…

1894

Patrick Flynn

Irish-American runner and soldier (died 1969)

Patrick J. Flynn was an accomplished Irish American athlete, an Olympic silver medalist and a war veteran.

1894

Wim Schermerhorn

Dutch cartographer, engineer, and politician, Prime Minister of the Netherlands (died 1977)

Willem "Wim" Schermerhorn was a Dutch politician who served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 25 June 1945 until 3 July 1946. He was a member of the Free-thinking Democratic League (VDB) and later co-founder of…

1894

Gerald Patterson

Australian tennis player (died 1967)

Gerald Leighton Patterson MC was an Australian tennis player.

1895

Loren Murchison

American sprinter (died 1979)

Loren C. Murchison was an American athlete, double gold medal winner in 4 × 100 m relay at the Olympic Games.

1898

Mary Cartwright

English mathematician and academic, one of the first people to analyze a dynamical system with chaos (died 1998)

Dame Mary Lucy Cartwright was a British mathematician. She was one of the pioneers of what would later become known as chaos theory. Along with J. E. Littlewood, Cartwright saw many solutions to a problem which would…

1900

Erskine Caldwell

American novelist and short story writer (died 1987)

Erskine Preston Caldwell was an American novelist and short story writer. His writings about poverty, racism and social problems in his native Southern United States, in novels such as Tobacco Road (1932) and God's…

1903

Ray Noble

English bandleader, composer, and actor (died 1978)

Raymond Stanley Noble was an English jazz and big band musician, who was a bandleader, composer and arranger, as well as a radio host, television and film comedian and actor; he also performed in the United States. He…

1903

Paul Cadmus

American painter and illustrator (died 1999)

Paul Cadmus was an American artist widely known for his egg tempera paintings of gritty social interactions in urban settings. He also produced many highly finished drawings of single nude male figures. His paintings…

1904

Simo Häyhä

Finnish soldier and sniper (died 2002)

Simo Häyhä, often referred to by his nickname The White Death, was a Finnish military sniper during the Winter War between Finland and the Soviet Union in World War II. He used a Finnish-produced M/28-30 rifle and a…

1905

Mohammad Hidayatullah

11th Chief Justice of India, and politician, sixth Vice President of India (died 1992)

Mohammad Hidayatullah, OBE was an Indian jurist and statesman who served as interim President of India in 1969. He concurrently served as Chief Justice of India from 1968 to 1970 and then as Vice President of India from…

1905

Erico Verissimo

Brazilian author and translator (died 1975)

Érico Lopes Veríssimo was an important Brazilian writer, born in the State of Rio Grande do Sul.

1905

Fernando Lopes-Graça

Portuguese composer and conductor (died 1994)

Fernando Lopes-Graça was a Portuguese composer, conductor and musicologist. Lopes-Graça was born in Tomar, and was influenced by Portuguese popular music, which he also studied, continuing the work of the composer and…

1906

Russell C. Newhouse

American pilot and engineer (died 1998)

Russell Conwell Newhouse (1906–1998) made many contributions to the advancement of aviation in a distinguished career running from the late 1920s into the 1970s. He was the Director of the Radar Laboratory for the Bell…

1906

Willard Libby

American chemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1980)

Willard Frank Libby was an American physical chemist noted for his role in the 1949 development of radiocarbon dating, a process which revolutionized archaeology and palaeontology. For his contributions to the team that…

1908

Eknath Easwaran

Indian-American educator and author (died 1999)

Eknath Easwaran was an Indian-born spiritual teacher, author, and translator and interpreter of Indian religious texts such as the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads.

1910

Sy Oliver

American singer-songwriter and trumpet player (died 1988)

Melvin James "Sy" Oliver was an American jazz arranger, trumpeter, composer, singer and bandleader.

1910

Edward Short

Baron Glenamara, English captain and politician, Lord President of the Council (died 2012)

Edward Watson Short, Baron Glenamara, was a British Labour Party politician and deputy leader of the Labour Party. He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Newcastle upon Tyne Central and served as a minister during the…

1912

Burt Baskin

American businessman, co-founded Baskin-Robbins (died 1967)

Burton Leo Baskin was an American businessman who co-founded the Baskin-Robbins ice cream parlor chain in 1946 with business partner and brother-in-law Irv Robbins.

1913

Mushtaq Ali

Indian cricketer (died 2005)

Syed Mushtaq Ali was an Indian cricketer, a right-handed opening batsman who holds the distinction of scoring the first overseas Test century by an Indian player when he scored 112 against England at Old Trafford in…

1914

Fernando Alonso

Cuban ballet dancer, co-founded the Cuban National Ballet (died 2013)

Fernando Alonso was a Cuban ballet dancer. He is a co-founder of the Cuban National Ballet and was part of the American Ballet Theatre company between 1940 until 1948. He received the Prix Benois de la Danse for…

1914

Penelope Fitzgerald

English author and poet (died 2000)

Penelope Mary Fitzgerald was a Booker Prize-winning novelist, poet, essayist and biographer from Lincoln, England. In 2008 The Times listed her among "the 50 greatest British writers since 1945". The Observer in 2012…

1916

Kenneth Dike

Nigerian historian, author, and academic (died 1983)

Kenneth Onwuka Dike was a Nigerian educationist, historian and the first Nigerian vice-chancellor of the University of Ibadan.

1917

Kenneth E. Iverson

Canadian computer scientist, developed the APL programming language (died 2004)

Kenneth Eugene Iverson was a Canadian computer scientist noted for the development of the programming language APL. He was honored with the Turing Award in 1979 "for his pioneering effort in programming languages and…

1920

Lore Berger

German-Swiss author and translator (died 1943)

Lore Berger was a Swiss writer who committed suicide at the age of 21.

1921

Alan Voorhees

American engineer and academic (died 2005)

Alan Manners Voorhees was an American transportation engineer and urban planner who designed many large public works in the United States and elsewhere.

1922

Jaroslav Pelikan

American historian and scholar (died 2006)

Jaroslav Jan Pelikan Jr. was an American scholar of the history of Christianity, Christian theology, and medieval intellectual history at Yale University.

1923

Calvin Tomkins

American author and art critic

Calvin Tomkins II was an American author and art critic for The New Yorker magazine.

1925

Ray Jablonski

American baseball player (died 1985)

Raymond Leo Jablonski was an American professional baseball third baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for all or parts of eight MLB seasons between 1953 and 1960. A 1954 National League All-Star, Jablonski…

1926

John Hans Krebs

American lawyer and politician (died 2014)

John Hans Krebs was an Israeli-American politician and attorney who served two terms as a U.S. Representative for California's 17th congressional district from 1975 to 1979.

1926

Stephen Lewis

English actor, director, screenwriter, and playwright (died 2015)

Stephen Lewis, credited early in his career as Stephen Cato, was an English actor, comedian, director, screenwriter, and playwright. He is best known for his roles as Inspector Cyril "Blakey" Blake in On the Buses, Clem…

1926

Richard Long

American actor and director (died 1974)

Richard McCord Long was an American actor best known for his leading roles in three ABC television series, The Big Valley, Nanny and the Professor, and Bourbon Street Beat. He was also a series regular on ABC's 77…

1927

Edward Meneeley

American painter and sculptor (died 2012)

Edward Meneeley was an American artist who created paintings, sculptures, and prints.

1927

Marilyn Beck

American journalist (died 2014)

Marilyn Beck was a syndicated Hollywood columnist and author.

1928

Eli Beeding

American captain and pilot (died 2013)

Eli Lackland Beeding Jr. was a U.S. Air Force captain and rocket test subject. In 1958, a series experiments using a miniature rocket sled began at Holloman AFB under the supervision of Colonel John Stapp and Captain…

1928

Doyle Conner

American farmer and politician, seventh Florida Commissioner of Agriculture (died 2012)

Doyle Edward Conner Sr. was an American politician. He served as Florida Commissioner of Agriculture for 30 years, and also served as Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives. He was born in 1928 in Starke,…

1928

William Safire

American journalist and author (died 2009)

William Lewis Safire was an American author, columnist, journalist, and presidential speechwriter. He was a long-time syndicated political columnist for The New York Times and wrote the "On Language" column in The New…

1929

Bob Guccione

American photographer and publisher, founded Penthouse (died 2010)

Robert Charles Joseph Edward Sabatini Guccione was an American visual artist, photographer and publisher. He founded the adult magazine Penthouse in 1965. This was aimed at competing with Playboy, but with more explicit…

1930

Armin Mueller-Stahl

German actor and painter

Armin Mueller-Stahl is a German retired actor who appeared in numerous English-language films starting in the 1980s. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Shine. In 2011, he…

1930

Dorothy Rowe

Australian psychologist and author (died 2019)

Dorothy Rowe was an Australian-British psychologist and author, whose area of interest was depression.

1930

Gerald Finnerman

American director and cinematographer (died 2011)

Gerald Perry Finnerman was an American cinematographer who worked on TV series such as Moonlighting and the original Star Trek. He served as vice president of the American Society of Cinematographers, and won a…

1931

Dave Madden

Canadian-American actor (died 2014)

David Joseph Madden was a Canadian-born American actor. His most famous role came on the 1970s sitcom The Partridge Family, in which he played the group's manager, Reuben Kincaid, opposite Shirley Jones's character.…

1931

James McGaugh

American neurobiologist and psychologist

James L. McGaugh is an American neurobiologist and author working in the field of learning and memory. He is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior at the University of…

1931

John Bond

English footballer and manager (died 2012)

John Frederick Bond was an English professional football player and manager. He played from 1950 until 1966 for West Ham United, making 444 appearances in all competitions and scoring 37 goals. He was a member of the…

1932

Irving Petlin

American painter and academic (died 2018)

Irving Petlin was an American artist and painter renowned for his mastery of the pastel medium and collaborations with other artists and for his work in the "series form" in which he employed the raw materials of…

1934

Ray Wilson

English footballer and manager (died 2018)

Ramon Wilson was an English professional footballer who played as a left-back. He was a member of the England national team that won the 1966 World Cup.

1934

Brian Langford

English cricketer (died 2013)

Brian Anthony Langford was an English first-class cricketer who played as an off-spin bowler for Somerset. He captained the county from 1969 until 1971 and his career tally of 1,390 wickets ranks him third in the…

1935

Cal Ripken Sr.

American baseball player, coach, and manager (died 1999)

Calvin Edwin Ripken was an American baseball player, scout, coach and manager who spent 36 years in the Baltimore Orioles organization. He played in the Orioles' farm system beginning in 1957, and later served as coach…

1935

Pope Francis

Argentinian Pope of the Catholic Church (died 2025)

Pope Francis was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 13 March 2013 until his death in 2025. He was the first Jesuit pope, the first Latin American, and the first pope born or raised outside…

1936

Tommy Steele

English singer, guitarist, and actor

Sir Thomas Hicks, known professionally as Tommy Steele, is an English entertainer, regarded as Britain's first teen idol and rock and roll star.

1936

Brian Hayes

Australian-English radio host (died 2025)

Brian Hayes was an Australian-British radio presenter who was known in the United Kingdom for his phone-in shows. He worked as a presenter on Capital Radio, LBC and BBC.

1937

Art Neville

American singer and keyboard player (died 2019)

Arthur Lanon Neville Jr. was an American singer, songwriter and keyboardist from New Orleans.

1937

Kerry Packer

Australian businessman, founded World Series Cricket (died 2005)

Kerry Francis Bullmore Packer was an Australian media tycoon, and was considered one of Australia's most powerful media proprietors of the twentieth century. The Packer family company owned a controlling interest in…

1937

John Kennedy Toole

American novelist (died 1969)

John Kennedy Toole was an American novelist from New Orleans, Louisiana, whose posthumously published novel, A Confederacy of Dunces, won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1981. At 16 in 1954, he wrote his first novel,…

1937

Calvin Waller

American general (died 1996)

Calvin Augustine Hoffman Waller was a United States Army lieutenant general.

1937

Peter Snell

New Zealand runner (died 2019)

Sir Peter George Snell was a New Zealand middle-distance runner. He won three Olympic gold medals, and is the only man since 1920 to have won the 800 and 1500 metres at the same Olympics, in 1964.

1938

James Booker

American pianist (died 1983)

James Carroll Booker III was an American New Orleans rhythm and blues keyboardist and singer. Flamboyant in personality and style, and a pianist of extraordinary technical skill, he was dubbed "the Black Liberace."

1939

Eddie Kendricks

American R&B singer-songwriter (died 1992)

Edward James Kendrick, better known as Eddie Kendricks, was an American tenor singer and songwriter. Noted for his distinctive falsetto singing style, Kendricks co-founded the Motown singing group the Temptations, and…

1939

Kåre Valebrokk

Norwegian journalist (died 2013)

Kåre Valebrokk was a Norwegian journalist and television executive. He was editor-in-chief and administrative director of TV 2 from October 1999 until June 2007, when he retired. He was the father of economist and…

1940

María Elena Velasco

Mexican actress, singer, director, and screenwriter (died 2015)

María Elena Velasco Fragoso was a Mexican actress, comedian, singer-songwriter and dancer. She was known for creating and portraying La India María, a comical character based on indigenous Mexican women.

1940

Dave Dee

English singer-songwriter and guitarist (died 2009)

David John Harman, known professionally as Dave Dee, was an English singer-songwriter, musician, A&R manager, fundraiser and businessman. He was the frontman for the 1960s pop band Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich.

1941

Stan Mudenge

Zimbabwean historian and politician, Zimbabwean Minister of Foreign Affairs (died 2012)

Isaak Stanislaus Gorerazvo Mudenge was a Zimbabwean politician who served in the government of Zimbabwe as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1995 to 2005 and as Minister of Higher Education from 2005 to 2012.

1941

Muhammadu Buhari

Nigerian general and politician, 7th & 15th President of Nigeria (died 2025)

Muhammadu Buhari was a Nigerian general and politician who ruled as military dictator of Nigeria from 1983 to 1985, and later served as the democratically elected civilian president of Nigeria from 2015 to 2023.

1942

Paul Butterfield

American singer and harmonica player (died 1987)

Paul Vaughn Butterfield was an American blues harmonica player, singer, and bandleader. After early training as a classical flautist, he developed an interest in blues harmonica. He explored the blues scene in his…

1942

Ron Geesin

Scottish pianist and composer

Ronald Frederick Geesin is a Scottish musician, composer and writer known for his unusual creations and novel applications of sound. He is also well known for his collaborations with Pink Floyd and Roger Waters.

1943

Jack L. Chalker

American author and educator (died 2005)

Jack Laurence Chalker was an American science fiction author. Chalker was also a Baltimore City Schools history teacher in Maryland for 12 years, retiring during 1978 to write full-time. He also was a member of the…

1944

Carlo M. Croce

Italian-American oncologist and academic

Carlo Maria Croce is an Italian-American professor of medicine at Ohio State University, specializing in oncology and the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer. Croce and his research have attracted public attention…

1944

Bernard Hill

English actor (died 2024)

Bernard Hill was an English actor. He was known for his versatile performances in both television and film, and his career spanned over fifty years.

1944

Ernie Hudson

American actor

Earnest Lee Hudson is an American actor. He is known for his role as Winston Zeddemore in the Ghostbusters franchise. Hudson has also acted in the films Leviathan (1989), The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992), The Crow…

1945

David Mallet

English director

David Victor Mark Mallet is a British director of music videos and concert films. He was one of the most prolific directors of music videos in the 1980s.

1945

Chris Matthews

American journalist and author

Christopher John Matthews is an American political commentator, retired talk show host, and author. Matthews hosted his weeknight hour-long talk show, Hardball with Chris Matthews, on America's Talking and later on…

1945

Jüri Talvet

Estonian poet and critic

Jüri Talvet is an Estonian poet and academic. He is the author of various literary works including poetry, criticism, and essays.

1945

Jacqueline Wilson

English author and academic

Dame Jacqueline Wilson is an English novelist known for her children's literature. Her novels have tackled realistic topics such as adoption and divorce. Since her debut novel in 1969, Wilson has written more than 100…

1945

Simon Bates

English radio host

Simon Philip Bates is an English disc jockey and radio presenter. Between 1976 and 1993 he worked at BBC Radio 1, presenting the station's weekday mid-morning show for most of this period. He was a regular presenter of…

1946

Eugene Levy

Canadian actor, director, and screenwriter

Eugene Levy is a Canadian actor and comedian. He often plays flustered and unconventional figures. He is best known for appearing in the sketch comedy series SCTV, which aired from 1976 until 1984, and the American Pie…

1946

Wes Studi

American actor and producer

Wesley Studi is a Cherokee actor and film producer. He has garnered critical acclaim and awards throughout his career, particularly for his portrayal of Native Americans in film. In 2019, he received an Academy Honorary…

1947

Valery Belousov

Russian ice hockey player and coach (died 2015)

Valery Konsantinovich Belousov was a Russian professional ice hockey coach and player.

1948

Jim Bonfanti

American rock drummer

James Alexander Bonfanti is an American rock drummer who is best known for having been a member of the band Raspberries.

1948

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu

Turkish economist and politician

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, also referred to by his initials KK, is a Turkish politician who served as the leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) from 2010 to 2023. He was Leader of the Main Opposition in Turkey between…

1948

Joel Brooks

American actor

Joel Brooks is an American actor, known for his roles in Stir Crazy, My Sister Sam, Six Feet Under, The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green and Phil of the Future. Brooks also had a recurring role as a…

1949

Sotiris Kaiafas

Cypriot footballer

Sotirios Kaiafas is a Cypriot former footballer who is considered to be Cyprus's best footballer. He played for Omonia and the Cyprus national team. During his career at Omonia, he won the European Golden Boot (1975–76).

1949

Paul Rodgers

English singer-songwriter and producer

Paul Bernard Rodgers is an English singer. He was the lead vocalist of numerous successful rock bands, including Free, Bad Company, the Firm and the Law. He also has performed as a solo artist and collaborated with the…

1949

Laurence F. Johnson

American educator and author

Larry Johnson is an American futurist, author, and educator. Currently, Johnson serves as the Founder and CEO of EdFutures.org, an international think tank, and as a Senior Fellow of the Center for Digital Education.…

1950

Maurice Peoples

American sprinter and coach

Maurice Peoples is an American former sprinter.

1950

Pat Hill

American football player and coach

Lawrence Patrick Hill is an American football coach, former player, and broadcaster. He served as the head football coach at Fresno State from 1997 until his dismissal following the 2011 season. In 15 seasons as head…

1951

Tatyana Kazankina

Russian runner

Tatyana Vasilyevna Kazankina is a Russian former runner who set seven world records and won a total of three gold medals at the Olympic Games for the Soviet Union. She was also awarded the Order of the Red Banner of…

1951

Bill Pullman

American actor

William Pullman is an American actor. After graduating with a Master of Fine Arts degree in theater, he was an adjunct professor at Montana State University before deciding to pursue acting.

1953

Sergejus Jovaiša

Lithuanian basketball player

Sergejus Jovaiša is a Lithuanian former professional basketball player. He played at the shooting guard position and won the bronze medal with Lithuania national team at the 1992 Summer Olympics. He was also a member of…

1954

Brad Davis

American basketball player, coach, and sportscaster

Bradley Ernest Davis is an American former professional basketball player who spent the bulk of his National Basketball Association (NBA) career with the Dallas Mavericks. He has been associated with the Mavericks for…

1955

Peter Farrelly

American director, producer, and screenwriter

Peter John Farrelly is an American film director, screenwriter, producer and novelist. Along with his brother Bobby, the Farrelly brothers are mostly famous for directing and producing quirky comedy and romantic comedy…

1956

Dominic Lawson

English journalist and author

Dominic Ralph Campden Lawson is a British journalist.

1956

Totka Petrova

Bulgarian runner

Totka Nikolaeva Petrova is a retired female middle-distance runner who represented Bulgaria in the 1970s and the early 1980s. She specialized in the 800 and 1500 metres, and won numerous international medals. She was…

1956

Wendy Hoyte

English sprinter

Wendy Patricia Hoyte is a British former sprinter, who won a 1982 Commonwealth Games gold medal and a 1982 European Championships silver medal in the 4 x 100 metres relay. She also competed at the 1976 Montreal Olympic…

1957

Bob Ojeda

American baseball player and coach

Robert Michael Ojeda is an American former professional baseball player, coach and television sports color commentator. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a left-handed pitcher from 1980 to 1994, most notably…

1957

Mike Mills

American bass player, songwriter, and producer

Michael Edward Mills is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer, and composer who was a founding member of the alternative rock band R.E.M. Though known primarily as the bass guitarist and backing vocalist of R.E.M.,…

1958

Donald Payne Jr.

American politician (died 2024)

Donald Milford Payne Jr. was an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for New Jersey's 10th congressional district from 2012 until his death in 2024. A member of the Democratic Party, Payne served as…

1958

Bob Stinson

American songwriter and guitarist (died 1995)

Robert Neil Stinson was an American musician best known as a founding member and lead guitarist of the rock band the Replacements.

1959

Mansoor al-Jamri

Bahraini journalist and author

Mansoor al-Jamri is a Bahraini columnist, author, human rights activist and former opposition leader. He is the editor-in-chief of Al-Wasat, an Arabic language independent daily newspaper. He is also the second son of…

1961

Sara Dallin

English singer

Sara Elizabeth Dallin is an English singer/songwriter and a founding member of the pop group Bananarama. The group has achieved 28 UK top-50 and 11 US top-100 singles, including a US number one with "Venus" (1986).…

1961

Paul Dobson

English footballer

Paul Dobson is an English former professional footballer. He was a prolific striker in the lower leagues during the 1980s and early 1990s, notably for Torquay United.

1962

Galina Malchugina

Russian sprinter

Galina Vyacheslavovna Malchugina is a retired sprinter from Russia. Competing for the Soviet relay team, she won medals at the 1988 and 1992 Olympics. In the individual distance 200 metres her success came mostly on…

1962

Rocco Mediate

American golfer and journalist

Rocco Anthony Mediate is an American professional golfer who has won six times on the PGA Tour and five times on the PGA Tour Champions. In the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines South Course, he finished runner-up after…

1962

Frank Musil

Czech ice hockey player and coach

František Musil, more commonly known in North America as Frank Musil, is a Czech former professional ice hockey player who spent several seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Minnesota North Stars,…

1964

Joe Wolf

American basketball player and coach (died 2024)

Joseph James Wolf was an American professional basketball player and coach. Wolf played eleven seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for seven different teams. He played college basketball for the North…

1964

Craig Berube

Canadian ice hockey player and coach

Craig Berube is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player who was most recently the head coach for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nicknamed "Chief", Berube played 17…

1965

Jeff Grayer

American basketball player and coach

Jeffrey Grayer is an American former professional basketball player who played nine seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Grayer was an All-American college player for the Iowa State Cyclones and won an…

1965

Tracy Byrd

American singer-songwriter and guitarist

Tracy Lynn Byrd is an American country music artist. Signed to MCA Nashville Records in 1992, Byrd broke through on the country music scene that year with his 1993 single "Holdin' Heaven", which reached Number One on…

1966

Kristiina Ojuland

Estonian politician, 23rd Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs

Kristiina Ojuland is an Estonian politician. She was the Foreign Minister of Estonia from 2002 through 2005. She was a member of the Estonian Reform Party from 1995 till 5 June 2013 and from 2009 to 2014 she served as…

1966

Vincent Damphousse

Canadian ice hockey player and sportscaster

Vincent François Damphousse is a Canadian former professional hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for eighteen seasons. He played centre for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, Montreal…

1967

Gigi D'Agostino

Italian musician, singer and DJ.

Luigino Celestino Di Agostino, known professionally as Gigi D'Agostino, is an Italian DJ and music producer. In 1986, he started his career as a DJ spinning Italo disco. His biggest chart successes include "Bla Bla…

1967

Karsten Neitzel

German footballer and manager

Karsten Neitzel is a former German football player and former manager. He previously served as both head and assistant coach of Malaysia Super League club Selangor.

1967

Claudio Suárez

Mexican footballer

Claudio Suárez Sánchez is a Mexican former professional footballer who played as a centre-back. With 177 caps for the Mexico national team, he is regarded as one of the best North American players of all time.

1968

Paul Tracy

Canadian race car driver and sportscaster

Paul Anthony Tracy is a Canadian-American professional auto racing driver who participated in Champ Car World Series, the IndyCar Series, and the Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART). He started kart racing at age five…

1968

Laurie Holden

American actress and model

Heather Laurie Holden is an American-Canadian actress, producer, model, and human rights activist. She is best known for portraying Marita Covarrubias in The X-Files (1996–2002) and Andrea Harrison in AMC's The Walking…

1969

Inna Lasovskaya

Russian triple jumper

Inna Alexandrovna Lasovskaya is a retired triple jumper from Russia. She won a gold medal at the 1994 European Athletics Indoor Championships, ahead of compatriot and world record holder Anna Biryukova. In 1996 she…

1969

Chuck Liddell

American mixed martial artist and kick-boxer

Charles David Liddell is an American former professional mixed martial artist. A professional competitor from 1998 to 2018, Liddell is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and is widely credited, along with fellow…

1969

Mick Quinn

English singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer

Michael Milton Quinn is an English musician and singer-songwriter. He is best known as founding member of English rock band Supergrass. He is a permanent member of fellow Oxford band Swervedriver.

1969

Sean Patrick Thomas

American actor

Sean Patrick Thomas is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Derek Reynolds in the 2001 film Save the Last Dance and as Jimmy James in Barbershop (2002), Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004), and…

1970

Claire Forlani

English actress

Claire Antonia Forlani is an English actress. She became known in the mid-1990s for her leading role in the film Mallrats, and in the Jean-Michel Basquiat 1996 biopic Basquiat. In 1998, she achieved wide recognition for…

1971

Alan Khan

South African radio and TV presenter

Alan Khan is a South African media and radio personality. He hosts the talk show Walk the Talk with Alan Khan on Lotus FM. In April 2015 Khan was inducted into the South African Radio Hall of Fame.

1971

Nikki McCray-Penson

American basketball player and coach (died 2023)

Nikki Kesangane McCray-Penson was an American basketball player and coach. She was the head coach of the Mississippi State Bulldogs women's basketball team from 2020 to 2021 and a professional basketball player from…

1971

Antoine Rigaudeau

French basketball player

Antoine Roger Rigaudeau is a French former professional basketball player and professional basketball coach. During his playing days, he played at the point guard, shooting guard, and small forward positions. Also…

1971

John Abraham

Indian actor and producer

John Abraham is an Indian actor and film producer who works in Hindi films. He is a recipient of one National Film Award along with four Filmfare Awards nominations. Abraham has appeared in Forbes India's Celebrity 100…

1972

Iván Pedroso

Cuban long jumper and coach

Iván Lázaro Pedroso Soler is a retired Cuban athlete, who specialized in the long jump, and is the current coach of Yulimar Rojas and Jordan Díaz.

1972

Eddie Fisher

American drummer

Eddie Ray Fisher is an American musician and songwriter. He is the drummer for the pop rock band OneRepublic. Eddie grew up in Mission Viejo, California and currently resides in Denver, Colorado, where OneRepublic is…

1973

Konstadinos Gatsioudis

Greek javelin thrower

Konstadinos Gatsioudis is a retired Greek track and field athlete who competed in the javelin throw. His personal best throw of 91.69 m, achieved in 2000, is the Greek record.

1973

Rian Johnson

American director, producer, and screenwriter

Rian Craig Johnson is an American filmmaker. He made his directorial debut with the neo-noir mystery film Brick (2005), which received positive reviews and grossed nearly $4 million on a $450,000 budget. Going on to…

1973

Paula Radcliffe

English runner

Paula Jane Radcliffe is a British former long-distance runner. She is a three-time winner of the London Marathon, three-time New York Marathon champion, the 2002 Chicago Marathon winner and the 2005 World Champion in…

1973

Hasan Vural

German-Turkish footballer

Hasan Vural is a Turkish former footballer and football manager.

1973

Charl Langeveldt

South African cricketer

Charl Kenneth Langeveldt is a South African cricket coach and former cricketer who is currently a bowling coach with the Zimbabwe national cricket team.

1974

Sarah Paulson

American actress

Sarah Catharine Paulson is an American actress. She is the recipient of numerous accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Tony Award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2017, Time…

1974

Giovanni Ribisi

American actor

Antonino Giovanni Ribisi is an American actor. He has appeared in the films That Thing You Do! (1996), Saving Private Ryan (1998), Gone in 60 Seconds (2000), Heaven (2002), Flight of the Phoenix (2004), Perfect Stranger…

1974

Marissa Ribisi

American actress

Marissa Ribisi is an American actress. She has appeared in the films Dazed and Confused (1993), The Brady Bunch Movie (1995), Pleasantville (1998), True Crime (1999), and Don's Plum (2001) and television shows such as…

1974

Nick Dinsmore

American wrestler and trainer

Nicholas David Dinsmore, better known by his ring name Eugene, is an American professional wrestler.

1975

Susanthika Jayasinghe

Sri Lankan sprinter

Deshabandu Kameradin Susanthika Jayasinghe is a Sri Lankan retired sprinter, who specialised in the 100 and 200 metres. She won the Olympic silver medal for the 200 m event in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, the…

1975

Milla Jovovich

Ukrainian-American actress

Milica Bogdanovna Jovović, known professionally as Milla Jovovich, is an American actress, singer, and former model. Her starring roles in numerous science fiction and action films led the music channel VH1 to deem her…

1975

Éric Bédard

Canadian speed skater and coach

Éric Bédard is a Canadian short track speed skater who has won 4 Olympic medals. He participated in three individual events at the 2006 Winter Olympics and finished fourth in the 500 meters. He also led a team into the…

1976

Nir Davidovich

Israeli footballer and manager

Nir Davidovich is an Israeli former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. His honours are 7 championships, 2 Israeli cups, 3 Toto Cups, 1 MVP of the season.

1976

Patrick Müller

Swiss footballer

Patrick Müller is a Swiss former professional footballer who played as a defender. In his fifteen-year professional career, Müller played for football clubs in Switzerland, France, and Spain, including two spells with…

1976

Andrew Simpson

English sailor (died 2013)

Andrew James "Bart" Simpson, was an English sailor who won a gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, as crew for skipper Iain Percy in the Star class representing Great Britain. Simpson died in the capsize of…

1976

Takeo Spikes

American football player and sportscaster

Takeo Gerard Spikes is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Auburn Tigers. He was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals…

1976

Arnaud Clément

French tennis player

Arnaud Clément is a French former professional tennis player and Davis Cup captain. Clément reached the final of the 2001 Australian Open and achieved a career-high singles ranking of world No. 10 in April 2001. He also…

1977

Samuel Påhlsson

Swedish ice hockey player

Samuel Olof Påhlsson is a Swedish former professional ice hockey player who last played with Modo Hockey of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). Påhlsson spent the majority of his playing career in the National Hockey…

1977

Katheryn Winnick

Canadian actress

Katheryn Winnick is a Canadian actress. She is known for her starring roles in the television series Vikings (2013–2020), Wu Assassins (2019), and Big Sky (2020–2023), and her recurring role on the television series…

1977

Alex Cintrón

Puerto Rican baseball player and sportscaster

Alexander Cintrón is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball infielder who is currently the hitting coach for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago…

1978

Riteish Deshmukh

Indian film actor, producer and architect

Riteish Vilasrao Deshmukh is an Indian actor, filmmaker and television presenter who predominantly works in Hindi and Marathi films. Known for his comic portrayals, Deshmukh is a recipient of several accolades including…

1978

Manny Pacquiao

Filipino boxer and politician

Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao Sr. is a Filipino professional boxer and former politician. Nicknamed "PacMan", he is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional boxers of all time, becoming the only eight-division…

1978

Neil Sanderson

Canadian drummer and songwriter

Neil Christopher Sanderson is a Canadian musician. He is the drummer, backing vocalist, keyboardist, and co-founder of the Canadian rock band Three Days Grace. He cited his influences as John Bonham, Danny Carey, and…

1978

Chase Utley

American baseball player

Chase Cameron Utley, nicknamed "the Man" and "Silver Fox," is an American former professional baseball second baseman who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 16 seasons, primarily for the Philadelphia Phillies. He…

1978

Matt Murley

American ice hockey player

Matt Murley is an American former professional ice hockey forward who played with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Phoenix Coyotes in the National Hockey League (NHL). He is currently a Sports betting expert for Barstool…

1979

Paul Smith

English footballer

Paul Daniel Smith is an English football coach and former player. He is currently head of Academy goalkeeper coaching at League Two club Colchester United.

1979

Suzy Batkovic

Australian basketball player

Suzy Batkovic is an Australian professional basketball player and politician. Suzy played her junior basketball with the Port Hunter Basketball Club in Newcastle. She has played basketball for several European clubs…

1980

Ryan Hunter-Reay

American race car driver

Ryan Christopher Hunter-Reay nicknamed RHR, is an American professional racing driver who won the Indianapolis 500 (2014) and the IndyCar Series championship (2012). He currently is the sporting director for IndyCar…

1980

Alexandra Papageorgiou

Greek hammer thrower

Alexandra Papageorgiou is a hammer thrower from Athens, Greece. Her personal best throw is 70.73 metres, achieved on August 1, 2009, in Thessaloniki. This places her second on the Greek all-time list, behind Stiliani…

1980

Eli Pariser

American activist and author

Eli Pariser is an author, activist, and entrepreneur. He has stated that his focus is "how to make technology and media serve democracy". He became executive director of MoveOn.org in 2004, where he helped pioneer the…

1980

Jerry Hsu

American skateboarder and photographer

Jerry Hsu is a Taiwanese-American skateboarder, photographer and owner/operator of the skate company "Sci-Fi Fantasy".

1981

Tim Wiese

German footballer

Tim Wiese is a German former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

1981

Josh Barfield

American baseball player

Joshua LaRoy Barfield is an American professional baseball executive and former second baseman. He is the son of former major league outfielder Jesse Barfield. Barfield was born in Venezuela during his mother's two-week…

1982

Lorenzo Cittadini

Italian rugby player

Lorenzo Cittadini is a retired Italian rugby union player who plays at prop. He made his debut for Italy against Ireland on 2 February 2008. He played at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand and the 2015 Rugby World…

1982

Craig Kielburger

Canadian activist and author

Craig Kielburger is a Canadian human rights activist and social entrepreneur. He is the co-founder, with his brother Marc Kielburger, of the WE Charity, as well as We Day and the independent, social enterprise Me to We.…

1982

Stéphane Lasme

Gabonese basketball player

Yann Ulrich Stéphane Lasme is a Gabonese former professional basketball player. He played college basketball at the University of Massachusetts (UMass), with the UMass Minutemen, and he was selected by the Golden State…

1982

Gregory Campbell

Canadian ice hockey player and executive

Gregory James Campbell is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre and current Assistant General Manager of the Florida Panthers. He was drafted by the Panthers in the third round, 67th overall, in the 2002 NHL…

1983

Erik Christensen

Canadian ice hockey player

Erik Christensen is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who last played for HV71 of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).

1983

Mikky Ekko

American singer and songwriter

John Stephen Sudduth, known professionally as Mikky Ekko, is an American singer and songwriter from Nashville. He co-wrote and was featured on Rihanna's 2013 single "Stay", which charted in multiple countries, becoming…

1983

Haron Keitany

Kenyan runner

Haron Keitany is a runner from Kenya, who specialises in 1500 metres. In 2008, he won 1500 metres races at the African Championships, the IAAF Golden League meeting of Weltklasse Zürich, and World Athletics Final. He…

1983

Sébastien Ogier

French race car driver

Sébastien Eugène Emile Ogier is a French rally driver, competing for the Toyota Gazoo Racing Team in the World Rally Championship (WRC). He is currently teamed with co-driver Vincent Landais. He has won 9 World Rally…

1983

Luis Alfageme

Argentinian footballer

Luis Maria Alfageme is an Argentine footballer who plays as a forward for F.C. Matese in Italy's Serie D.

1984

Julian Bennett

English footballer

Julian Llewelyn Bennett is an English retired footballer, who played as a defender, having spent his career at Walsall, Nottingham Forest, Sheffield Wednesday before finishing his career at Southend United.

1984

Andrew Davies

English footballer

Andrew John Davies is an English former professional footballer who played as a centre back.

1984

Shannon Woodward

American actress

Shannon Marie Woodward is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Sabrina Collins on the Fox sitcom Raising Hope (2010–2014), Elsie Hughes on the HBO science-fiction thriller series Westworld…

1984

Fernando Abad

Dominican baseball player

Fernando Antonio Abad is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Algodoneros de Unión Laguna of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros, Washington…

1985

Łukasz Broź

Polish footballer

Łukasz Broź is a Polish professional footballer who plays as a defender for V liga Masovia club Tygrys Huta Mińska.

1985

Craig Reid

English footballer

Craig Kevin Reid is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker.

1985

Emma Bell

American actress

Emma Jean Bell is an American actress, best known for her role as Parker O'Neal in the films Frozen and Hatchet II, as Molly Harper in Final Destination 5 (2011), and for playing Amy in the first and third season of the…

1986

Frei Gilson

Brazilian Catholic priest and singer

Gilson da Silva Pupo Azevedo, known as Frei Gilson, is a Brazilian Catholic priest and singer. A Carmelite friar, he is known for leading the ministry Som do Monte, which seeks to spread religious messages through…

1986

Frank Winterstein

Australian-Samoan rugby league player

Frank Winterstein is a Samoa international rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row forward for Toulouse Olympique in the Championship.

1986

Vanessa Zima

American actress

Vanessa Zima is an American actress. She is known for her roles as a child actress in the 1990s films The Baby-Sitters Club, Ulee's Gold, and Wicked, and for her recurring role on the first season of the 1995 television…

1986

Maryna Arzamasova

Belarusian middle-distance runner

Maryna Aliaksandrauna Arzamasova is a Belarusian middle-distance runner.

1987

Bo Guagua

Chinese businessman

Bo Kuangyi, more commonly known as Bo Guagua, is a Chinese businessman and lawyer. The second son of Bo Xilai and the only child of Gu Kailai, he attracted media attention for his family background and lifestyle, often…

1987

Chelsea Manning

American soldier and intelligence analyst

Chelsea Elizabeth Manning is an American activist and whistleblower. She is a former United States Army soldier who was convicted by court-martial in July 2013 of violations of the Espionage Act and other offenses,…

1987

Donovan Solano

Colombian baseball player

Donovan Solano Preciado, nicknamed "Donnie Barrels", is a Colombian professional baseball infielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Miami Marlins, New York Yankees,…

1987

Liisa Ehrberg

Estonian cyclist

Liisa Ehrberg is an Estonian racing cyclist. She rode at the 2014 UCI Road World Championships.

1988

Grethe Grünberg

Estonian ice dancer

Grethe Grünberg is an Estonian former ice dancer. With partner Kristjan Rand, she is the 2007 World Junior silver medalist and the 2005–2007 Estonian national champion.

1988

Kris Joseph

Canadian basketball player

Kristopher Carlos Joseph is a Canadian former professional basketball player. He played for the Syracuse Orange men's basketball team from 2008 to 2012. He was selected in the second round of the 2012 NBA draft by the…

1988

David Rudisha

Kenyan runner

David Lekuta Rudisha, MBS is a retired Kenyan middle-distance runner who is the world and Olympic record holder in the 800 metres. Rudisha won gold medals in the 800 m at the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Olympic Games,…

1988

Yann Sommer

Swiss footballer

Yann Sommer is a Swiss professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Serie A club Inter Milan. He is known for his exceptional reflexes and high agility.

1988

Craig Sutherland

Scottish footballer

Craig Stephen Sutherland is a Scottish former professional footballer who played as a forward. He began his career in the United States playing college soccer for Midwestern State University and North Carolina State…

1988

André Ayew

Ghanaian footballer

André Morgan Rami Ayew, also known as Dede Ayew in Ghana, is a professional footballer who plays as a winger or forward for Dutch Eerste Divisie club NAC Breda and captains the Ghana national team.

1989

Taylor York

American musician

Taylor Benjamin York is an American musician, best known as the lead guitarist for the rock band Paramore.

1989

Graham Rogers

American actor

Graham Rogers is an American actor, known for his roles as Scott Thomas in the comedy film Struck by Lightning (2012), Danny Matheson in NBC's science fiction series Revolution, Al Jardine in the biopic Love and Mercy…

1990

Jordan Rankin

Australian rugby league player

Jordan Rankin is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who last played as a fullback, five-eighth or halfback for the Huddersfield Giants in the Super League.

1991

Atsedu Tsegay

Ethiopian runner

Atsedu Tsegay Tesfay is an Ethiopian professional long-distance runner. In 2012, he won Prague Half Marathon in a time of 58:47 — the best half marathon performance of the year and an Ethiopian record.

1991

Quinton de Kock

South African cricketer

Quinton de Kock is a South African international cricketer and former captain of the South Africa national team in all three formats. He currently plays for Titans at the domestic level and for South Africa in white…

1992

Buddy Hield

Bahamian basketball player

Chavano Rainer "Buddy" Hield is a Bahamian professional basketball player for the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Oklahoma Sooners and was named the Big…

1992

Joshua Ingram

Canadian drummer and percussionist

Joshua Ingram is a rock drummer and percussionist. Ingram is best known as the former drummer of American hard rock band New Years Day.

1992

Kiersey Clemons

American actress

Kiersey Nicole Clemons is an American actress. She is known for her role in the 2015 comedy-drama film Dope, playing Cassandra "Diggy" Andrews. Subsequently, she went on to co-star in Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising…

1993

Patricia Kú Flores

Peruvian tennis player

Patricia Iveth Kú Flores is a Peruvian former tennis player.

1993

Lloyd Perrett

New Zealand rugby league player

Lloyd Perrett is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the Ormeau Shearers DMC side.

1994

Nat Wolff

American singer-songwriter, keyboard player and actor

Nathaniel Marvin Wolff is an American actor, musician, and singer-songwriter. He initially gained recognition for composing the music for The Naked Brothers Band (2007–2009), a Nickelodeon television series he starred…

1994

Guerschon Yabusele

French basketball player

Guerschon Yabusele is a French professional basketball player for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He primarily plays at the power forward position. Yabusele represents the French national…

1995

Elizaveta Tuktamysheva

Russian figure skater

Elizaveta Sergeyevna Tuktamysheva is a retired Russian figure skater. She is the 2015 World champion, the 2021 World silver medalist, the 2015 European champion and the 2013 European bronze medalist. She has medaled 16…

1996

Naiktha Bains

British-Australian tennis player

Naiktha Bains is an Australian-British tennis player.

1997

Shoma Uno

Japanese figure skater

Shoma Uno is a Japanese figure skater. As a singles skater, he is a three-time Olympic medalist, a two-time World champion, and a two-time World silver medalist. He was also the 2019 Four Continents champion, the…

1997

Jasmine Armfield

English actress

Jasmine Armfield is an English actress, known for playing Bex Fowler in the BBC soap opera EastEnders from 2014 to 2020, with a brief stint in 2025. Following her leaving the soap, she has made appearances in fellow BBC…

1998

Martin Ødegaard

Norwegian footballer

Martin Ødegaard is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for and captains both Premier League club Arsenal and the Norway national team.

1998

Holly Humberstone

English singer-songwriter

Holly Ffion Humberstone is an English singer and songwriter. She released her debut EP Falling Asleep at the Wheel in 2020, before signing a recording contract with Interscope and Polydor Records. Her first EP following…

1999

Mirei Sasaki

Japanese singer, model, and actress

Mirei Sasaki is a Japanese actress, reporter, and model. She has appeared in dramas such as Women's Gourmet Burger Club (2020) and Kakegurui Twin (2021), and starred in Koeharu! (2021) and Piece of Cake! (2022). Her…

1999

Wesley Fofana

French footballer

Wesley Tidjan Fofana is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Premier League club Chelsea.

2000

Castello Lukeba

French footballer

Junior Castello Lukeba is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Bundesliga club RB Leipzig.

2002

Famous birthdays

Who was born on December 17?

Ken Hitchcock — Canadian ice hockey coach

FeaturedKen Hitchcock

Birth year1951

Known forHitchcock is a Canadian former professional ice hockey coach

Birthdays on this date248 (1239 – 2002)

Explore December 17

Jump between the main pages for this date to compare events, people, and the daily quiz.

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Also on December 17 in History

2014

The United States and Cuba re-establish diplomatic relations after severing them in 1961. Wikipedia →

2010

Mohamed Bouazizi sets himself on fire. This act became the catalyst for the Tunisian Revolution and the wider Arab Spring. Wikipedia →

2009

MV Danny F II sinks off the coast of Lebanon, resulting in the deaths of 44 people and over 28,000 animals. Wikipedia →

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