Famous People Born On October 17th

Amongst the biggest rappers of all time, Eminem gained worldwide popularity with the release of albums like The Slim Shady LP and The Marshall Mathers LP. His subsequent albums became huge successes further making him a bigger sensation and one of the bestselling music artists of all time. His fame greatly inspired other white rappers to succeed in popular music.

English actress Felicity Jones started her career as a child and went on to take up more mature roles as a teenager. One of her uncles is an actor, and he influenced her to take up the profession herself. She appeared in many TV shows in the initial years of her career before venturing into films as well.

Rita Hayworth was one of the most glamorous Hollywood actresses of the 1930s and 1940s. Her filmography includes 61 films among which the most notable ones are The Strawberry Blonde, Gilda and Cover Girl. The personal life of the actress, who was also known as the Love Goddess, was marked by a series of failed marriages.

With 21 Grands Prix wins Kimi-Matias Räikkönen, nicknamed ‘The Iceman’, thrived as the most successful Finnish racing driver with regard to Formula One race wins. He was the winner of the 2007 Formula One World Championship competing for Scuderia Ferrari. He took 103 podium finishes and with this became one of the five drivers who have taken more-than 100 podiums.

Arthur Miller was an American essayist and playwright. Miller is credited with creating popular plays, such as Death of a Salesman, which is widely regarded as one of the best American plays of the 20th century. Thanks to his illustrious career, which spanned more than 70 years, Arthur Miller is regarded as one of the 20th century's greatest dramatists.

Margot Kidder is best remembered for her roles as Lois Lane in the Superman movie franchise and as Kathy Lutz in The Amityville Horror. Fans also loved her in the hit Broadway play The Vagina Monologues. She was a vocal anti-war and pro-environment activist. She eventually died by suicide.

Evel Knievel was an entertainer and stunt performer. He attempted more than 75 ramp-to-ramp motorcycle jumps in his career, a feat that gained him much popularity. In 1999, he was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame. He was known to be a man of values and actively preached anti-drug messages to youngsters. He also campaigned for motorcycle helmet safety. 

Singer and songwriter Alan Jackson is famous for popularizing the “neotraditional country” genre of music that has elements of traditional honky-tonk and mainstream country-pop sounds. Having sold over 75 million records worldwide, he is one of the best-selling music artists of all-time. In 2017, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

A well-established British stage actor, Matthew Macfadyen, made his screen debut with television movie Wuthering Heights and gained fame with drama series Spooks. He later gave an award winning performance in TV series Criminal Justice II. Meanwhile, he also made his film debut and gained popularity with movies like Pride & Prejudice, Death at a Funeral and Robin Hood.

Montgomery Clift was an American actor whose decision not to sign a contract in Hollywood for the first couple of films went on to help establish the structure of the star-studio relationship from the 1950s to the '80s. One of the original American method actors, Clift was the subject of a documentary named Making Montgomery Clift, which released in 2018.

Former NASA astronaut Mae Jemison became the first Black woman to fly into space, as a mission specialist on the Space Shuttle Endeavour. A qualified physician, she has served as a Peace Corps doctor, too. She has written several books and established a non-profit and a tech research organization.

Holly Holm is a mixed martial artist. A former world champion in boxing, Holm currently competes in the UFC and holds the distinction of being the first fighter to hold a UFC title and a world boxing title. Her win against Ronda Rousey at UFC 193 is regarded as one of the biggest upsets in the history of combat sports.

Wyclef Jean is a Haitian musician, actor, and rapper. This Grammy Award-winning musician garnered national attention when his efforts to raise relief funds to aid the victims of the 2010 Haitian earthquake through his charitable organization Yéle Haiti were questioned as reports suggested that Jean retained the money for his own benefit. The organization has been the subject of controversy.

George Wendt is an American comedian and actor best known for portraying Norm Peterson in the popular television series Cheers, for which he received six consecutive Primetime Emmy Award nominations under the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series category. He has also appeared in several films, playing important roles.

Queen Naija is an American YouTuber, singer, and songwriter. She is one of the many internet personalities to have established a career in the mainstream entertainment industry after having garnered fame as a YouTuber. However, unlike many YouTubers, Naija first gained prominence when she competed in the 13th season of American Idol.

Welsh actor, Andy Whitfield, gained international fame for his leading role in the Starz television series Spartacus: Blood and Sand. A qualified engineer, he quit his corporate job to act in TV shows. He became popular within a few years and began acting in films as well. Tragically, he became ill with cancer and died at the age of 39. 

Bea Alonzo is a Filipina model, actress, and former singer. Widely regarded as one of Asia's biggest stars,Bea Alonzo has won many prestigious awards for her skills as an actress. In 2016, she was adjudged Movie Actress of the Year at the 32nd PMPC Star Awards for Movies for playing Basha Belinda Eugenio-Gonzales in the 2015 film, A Second Chance.

Jean Arthur was an American film and Broadway actress whose performances in films like Mr. Deeds Goes to Town and You Can't Take It with You established her as the quintessential comedic leading lady of Hollywood. Jean Arthur's contribution to the film industry earned her a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Wood Harris, younger brother of actor Steve Harris, is best known for his portrayal of Avon Barksdale, a character modeled on real-life drug dealer Nathan Barksdale, in The Wire. He has also appeared in the series Empire and films such as Remember the Titans, and narrated the sports documentary Benji.

Ernie Els is a South African golfer renowned for his fluid golf swing and imposing physical stature, which has earned him the nickname, The Big Easy. A former World No. 1, Els has four major championships under his belt. Ernie Els is only one of six golfers to twice win the Open Championship as well as the U.S. Open.

Cristine Rotenberg is a Canadian social media star known for her pioneering YouTube nail art channel, Simply Nailogical. She is known for her innovative content such as painting a car with nail polish. She has also launched her own vegan nail polish brand, Holo Taco. A self-proclaimed holosexual, she loves holographic things.

Graça Machel is known for her association with Mozambique’s FRELIMO movement and has been the country’s first education minister. She has also been married to both former Mozambican president Samora Machel and South African president Nelson Mandela. Through The Elders, she is devoted to working for women’s and children’s rights.

Born to Ukrainian parents in Canada, actor Erin Karpluk was determined to start a career in acting and had thus majored in theater. She is best known for her roles in Being Erica and A Million Little Things and has also been seen in movies such as Reasonable Doubt.

Legendary American comic book writer Jerry Siegel whose best-known creation was the iconic comic superhero Superman, which he co-created with comic artist Joe Shuster. Known for his stint with DC Comics, he also created other characters such as Doctor Occult, Superboy, and The Spectre. He also worked for Marvel and Charlton Comics.

Singer-songwriter Jeanne-Paule Marie Deckers, better known as The Singing Nun, soared to fame with the Billboard-charting track Dominique. She was also a Dominican Order nun, who later took the name Sister Luc Gabriel. She often played the guitar and was accompanied by a chorus of 4 nuns.

Chris Kirkpatrick is an American singer, songwriter, music producer, dancer, and occasional actor. He is credited with forming the now-defunct boy band NSYNC which had Justin Timberlake as one of its members. Thanks to his humble beginning, Chris Kirkpatrick's rags to riches story has inspired several aspiring musicians over the years.

Portuguese football manager André Villas-Boas, who has most recently managed Marseille, has previously also served teams such as Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur. He has also managed clubs in Russia and China. A motorsport lover, too, he has competed in the World Rally Championship. He hails from a Portuguese noble family.

Born to a cotton buyer, Betty May Adams, or Julie Adams, grew up to be a popular actor, best known for her classic horror film Creature from the Black Lagoon. She had also been part of series such as Murder, She Wrote and had co-written a book with her son.