January 17

January 17

Born on This Day

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  • In these groups:
  • Famous Moms
  • Influential Women of Washington
  • U.S. First Ladies

  Michelle Obama

  Lawyer, U.S. First Lady / 1964 -

  Michelle Obama is a lawyer, Chicago city administrator and community outreach worker, as well as the wife of U.S. President Barack Obama and the 44th first lady.

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  Michelle Obama

  Born: January 17, 1964
  Age: 49 years old
  Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
  Occupation: Lawyer, U.S. First Lady
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  • In these groups:
  • Famous Fathers
  • Name Changers
  • Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier

  Muhammad Ali

  Boxer, Philanthropist / 1942 -

  Muhammad Ali is considered one of the greatest athletes in boxing history, winning both the coveted Golden Gloves title and an Olympic gold medal, among several other honors.

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  Muhammad Ali

  1942 | 71 years old
  Boxer, Philanthropist

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  • In these groups:
  • Famous Lookalikes
  • Celebrity Enlistees
  • People Who Played Scrooge

  James Earl Jones

  Film Actor, Theater Actor / 1931 -

  James Earl Jones is the American actor who voiced Darth Vader in the Star Wars film franchise. He's also known for roles in such films as The Hunt for Red October and Field of Dreams, and such shows as Frasier and Everwood.

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  James Earl Jones

  1931 | 82 years old
  Film Actor, Theater Actor

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  • In these groups:
  • People Who Played Scrooge
  • Sober Celebs
  • Rags to Riches

  Jim Carrey

  Film Actor, Comedian / 1962 -

  Jim Carrey is a comedian and actor best known for comedic and dramatic film roles in movies including Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and The Truman Show.

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  Jim Carrey

  Born: January 17, 1962
  Age: 51 years old
  Birthplace: Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
  Occupation: Film Actor, Comedian
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  • In these groups:
  • Onscreen Superheroes
  • Elementals
  • The Ed Sullivan Show Guests

  Eartha Kitt

  Actress / 1927 - 2008

  Singer and actress Eartha Kitt is best known for her holiday song "Santa Baby," and for playing Catwoman in the 1960's TV show Batman.

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  Eartha Kitt

  1927 | 81 years old
  Actress

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  • In these groups:
  • Celebrity Death Hoaxes
  • Silver Foxes
  • Famous Capricorns

  Betty White

  Animal Rights Activist, Television Actress, Comedian / 1922 -

  Betty White is a comedic actress who has been in show business, from TV to film, since the 1950s, most notably on The Golden Girls.

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  Betty White

  1922 | 91 years old
  Animal Rights Activist, ...

January 17

Died on This Day

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  • In these groups:
  • Famous Libras
  • Famous People Named Art
  • Famous Pulitzer Prize Winners

  Art Buchwald

  Journalist / 1925 - 2007

  Art Buchwald is known for writing humor columns for Paris newspaper The Herald Tribune, and for winning a Pulitzer Prize for Outstanding Commentary in 1982.

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  Art Buchwald

  Died: January 17, 2007
  Age: 81 years old
  Place: Washington, D.C. , United States
  Occupation: Journalist
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  • In these groups:
  • Famous Arians
  • Famous Poets
  • Famous People Born in 1930

  Gregory Corso

  Poet / 1930 - 2001

  American poet Gregory Corso was one of the leading voices of the Beat movement. His poetry collections include The Vestal Lady on Brattle and The Mutation of the Spirit.

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  Gregory Corso

  2001 | 70 years old
  Poet

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  • In these groups:
  • Famous Military Veterans
  • Candidates Eating
  • U.S. Presidents

  Rutherford B. Hayes

  Lawyer, Military Leader, Governor, U.S. President, U.S. Representative / 1822 - 1893

  Rutherford B. Hayes was the 19th president of the United States and oversaw the end of the rebuilding efforts of the Reconstruction.

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  Rutherford B. Hayes

  1893 | 70 years old
  Lawyer, Military Leader, Governor, ...

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  • In these groups:
  • Famous Recluses
  • Famous Pisceans
  • Famous Chess Players

  Bobby Fischer

  Chess Player / 1943 - 2008

  Bobby Fischer is best known for being the first American grandmaster of chess.

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  Bobby Fischer

  Died: January 17, 2008
  Age: 64 years old
  Place: Reykjavik , Iceland
  Occupation: Chess Player
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  • In these groups:
  • Famous Pisceans
  • Famous Black Activists
  • Famous Civil Rights Activists

  Barbara Jordan

  Civil Rights Activist, U.S. Representative / 1936 - 1996

  Barbara Jordan was a U.S. congressional representative from Texas and was the first African American congresswoman to come from the Deep South.

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  Barbara Jordan

  1996 | 59 years old
  Civil Rights Activist, ...

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  • In these groups:
  • Famous Sagittarians
  • Famous People Named Gary
  • Famous People Born in 1940

  Gary Gilmore

  Murderer, Thief / 1940 - 1977

  Murder Gary Gilmore was executed by a volunteer firing squad in 1977. His death inspired Norman Mailer’s nonfiction book The Executioner’s Song.

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  Gary Gilmore

  1977 | 36 years old
  Murderer, Thief