Famous People Born On January-17th

Widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time, Muhammad Ali was a major figure of the 20th century. He was an inspirational figure for African-Americans during the civil rights movement. Because of his opposition to Vietnam War and his refusal to be drafted into military, Muhammad Ali became an icon for the larger counterculture generation.

Betty White, American actress and comedian, is considered as the pioneer of television and has had the longest television career of any entertainer, straddling more than 80 years. She’s known for her award-winning performances in shows like The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Golden Girls and Hot in Cleveland. 

Canadian American actor, Jim Carrey worked as a janitor and a stand-up comedian at club and on stage before entering films and television. His big Hollywood break came with Ace Ventura: Pet Detective which catapulted him to comedy star status. His later films like The Truman Show and Bruce Almighty proved his versatility and won him critical and commercial success.

Benjamin Franklin is considered one of the founding fathers of the United States as he was a signer of both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. He was a writer, politician, scientist, inventor, civic activist, an accomplished diplomat and much more. He is a key figure in the history of physics for his discoveries and theories regarding electricity.

Comedian, businessman and entertainer Steve Harvey has been active in the entertainment world since 1985. Born to parents who were avid movie lovers, he developed an early love for performing. He began his entertainment career as a stand-up comedian and soon started performing in TV shows and films. Also an entrepreneur, he founded Steve Harvey Global (SHG).

Wife of the former U.S President, Barack Obama, and one of the most popular First Ladies of the United States, Michelle Obama is a celebrity in her own right. She is still very popular and is a sought-after speaker around the globe and often lends her voice to issues like poverty awareness, education, nutrition, women’s rights, immigration and racism.

Zooey Deschanel is an American actress known for her deadpan roles in successful comedy films, such as The Good Girl, Elf, Failure to Launch, Yes Man and 500 Days of Summer. She also acted in the popular sitcom New Girl. She is also a singer and songwriter and plays keyboards, percussion, banjo, and ukulele. Zooey is a co-founder of the female-focused website, HelloGiggles.

A veteran actor with a career spanning more than seven decades, James Earl Jones has been described as "one of America's most distinguished and versatile" actors. He initially aspired to be a doctor but fate had other plans for him. He began his career as a stage actor and soon joined films as well.

With an Olympic gold medal and three NBA championships, Dwyane Wade is one of the most decorated former American basketball players of the 21st century. Also a well-known philanthropist, Dwyane Wade founded The Wade's World Foundation in 2003; the foundation helps community-based organizations promote education and social skills for children. He also supports St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Eartha Kitt was an American actress, comedian, dancer, and singer-songwriter. Renowned for her distinctive singing style, Kitt recorded several chartbusting songs during the 1950s. Also a well-known activist, Eartha Kitt established a non-profit organization called the Kittsville Youth Foundation, which helped underprivileged youths in Los Angeles. She was also an ardent advocate for same-sex marriage and LGBT rights.

Andy Kaufman was an American entertainer and wrestler. Considered an anti-comedian for his ability and willingness to provoke confused and negative reactions from audiences, Kaufman is revered for his counterintuitive approach to comedy. Apart from influencing comedians like Jim Carrey, Kaufman also inspired movies like Toni Erdmann. There are rumours that his death is believed to be a hoax and part of his prank.

Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk is not just a European and World Champion but also an Olympic gold medalist. Considered one of Ukraine’s best boxers in history, he is also the fourth male boxer to hold the WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO titles at the same time.

Naveen Andrews is a British-American actor best known for portraying Sayid Jarrah in the popular TV series Lost, for which he received nominations for Golden Globe Award and Primetime Emmy Award and won the Screen Actors Guild Award. A multi-talented personality, Naveen Andrews can also play the guitar.

Mick Taylor soared to fame as the guitarist of iconic rock band The Rolling Stones. He has also been part of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. Named to the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame, he was also declared one of Rolling Stone magazine’s 100 greatest guitarists of all time.

Rock, country, and folk singer-songwriter, Steve Earle, developed an early interest in music and started his career when he was a teenager. Rebellious as a young man, he went through his share of struggles before he was able to establish himself successfully as a singer. Also a political activist, he is a vocal opponent of capital punishment. 

American rapper, singer-songwriter, and controversial figure Ray J made headlines for reasons other than what he is usually known for when he introduced a line of electronics to the US market after founding Raytroniks Inc. Among the products, the Scoot-E-Bike brand grew exponentially and had an impact on the American bike market. 

Joy Taylor is a well-known face and voice on Fox Sports 1 where she is a host and anchor, noted particularly for moderating the talk show Skip and Shannon: Undisputed. Sister of American football player, Jason Taylor, she hosted radio shows at Barry University during her graduation in broadcast communication, before featuring in 790 AM The Ticket shows in Miami.

Two-time Commonwealth gold-winning gymnast Nile Wilson is also a World Championship silver medalist and an Olympic bronze medalist. He retired from the sport at age 21. He is also a social-media star, with two popular YouTube channels, where he posts his work-out videos and other life stories.

Lucy Boynton is a British-American actress best known for playing real-life characters in films. After starting her acting career at the age of 12, Boynton has since made a successful transition to being an actress. Her current relationship with Rami Malek, 13 years her senior, might serve as an inspiration to couples with an age gap.

Legendary Soviet and Russian theatre-practitioner Konstantin Stanislavski, who played an instrumental role in promoting new Russian drama of his time, is best-known for co-founding the world-renowned Moscow Art Theatre and developing the Stanislavski's system of training and preparing actors. Sergeyevich was considered one of the prominent theatre directors of his day and also earned repute as a remarkable character actor.

Moira Shearer was a Scottish actress and ballet dancer. She is best remembered for playing an important role in the movie The Red Shoes. Although Moira Shearer went on to work as a dancer and actress for many decades after making her acting debut in The Red Shoes, she is still primarily known for her portrayal of Vicky in the 1948 film.

Rexton Rawlston Fernando Gordon, better known as Shabba Ranks, was one of the most popular dancehall performers of his time. The Grammy Award winner soared to international fame with the track Mr. Loverman. He was also once in trouble for allegedly communicating that he was against the LGBT community.

Pakistani actor Sajal Ali soared to fame with her performances in films such as Mohabbat Jaye Bhar Mein and Quddusi Sahab Ki Bewah. She later made her Lollywood debut with the film Zindagi Kitni Haseen Hay and soon stepped into Bollywood with the Sridevi starrer Mom.

Tara Elders is a Dutch actress who achieved popularity in 2007 when she played Maggie in the American remake of filmmaker Theo van Gogh's 2003 drama film Interview. The 2007 film starred Sienna Miller and Steve Buscemi in lead roles. Tara Elders has also appeared in several popular TV series like Najib en Julia, TV7, and Medea.

Alva Belmont was an American socialite who played a major role in the women's suffrage movement in the United States of America. Remembered for her intelligence, energy, and strong opinions, Belmont is credited with founding the Political Equality League which aimed at promoting suffrage-supporting politicians. Alva Belmont is also credited with co-founding the National Woman's Party in 1916.

Hungarian biochemist Katalin Karikó is best known for her research on mRNA, which led scientists to develop the first mRNA-based vaccine in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. After working at the Biological Research Centre in Szeged, she moved to the US due to lack of funding.

Mack Sennett was a film actor, director, and producer. He specialized in comedy and was known as the 'King of Comedy'. Born in Canada in 1880, he moved to USA as a young man and entered the fledgling film industry as an actor. He found considerable success and went on to open Keystone Studios in Edendale.