June Carter Cash
Musical Monikers
Madonna
Justin Bieber
My Ghost Story
I Survived
Babe Ruth
Johnny Cash
Georgia O'Keefe
I Survived
On This Day
Discover events that happened On This Day including famous birthdays and notable deaths. Each day we highlight famous people, past and present, who have impacted our world. Browse sections by selecting the links below or click the calendar to view events on another day.
November 17
Events on This Day
-
1839
174 years ago
Giuseppe Verdi's first opera, Oberto, debuts in Milan; the next day he's commissioned to write three more works.
-
1970
43 years ago
Douglas Engelbart makes computers user-friendly by patenting the first point-and-click computer mouse.
-
1973
40 years ago
Richard Nixon addresses the nation about the Watergate break-in scandal and proclaims, "I am not a crook."
-
2008
5 years ago
Twilight, starring Kristin Stewart and Robert Pattinson and based on the bestseller by Stephenie Meyer, premieres in Los Angeles
November 17
Born on This Day
-
Martin Scorsese
- In these groups:
- Best Director Oscar Winners
- Famous Scorpios
- Famous Film Directors
Martin Scorsese
Director, Producer / 1942 -
Director Martin Scorsese has produced some of the most memorable films in cinema history, including the iconic Taxi Driver and Academy Award-winner The Departed.
Born: November 17, 1942
Age: 70 years old
Birthplace: Flushing, New York, United States
Occupation: Director, Producer -
Rock Hudson
- In these groups:
- Celebrity Enlistees
- Famous Military Veterans
- Name Changers
Rock Hudson
Film Actor / 1925 - 1985
Noted for his exceptional good looks and comedic film performance, Rock Hudson was an iconic actor who, later in life, contracted and died from the AIDS virus.
1925 | 59 years old
Film Actor -
Lee Strasberg
- In these groups:
- Famous Academics
- Famous Teachers
- Famous Aquarians
Lee Strasberg
Educator / 1901 - 1982
Theater director Lee Strasberg co-founded the Group Theatre, where he directed experimental plays, and later became artistic director of the Actors Studio.
1901 | 81 years old
Educator -
Danny DeVito
- In these groups:
- Rags to Riches
- Actors Turned Directors
- Batman Villains
Danny DeVito
Actor, Filmmaker / 1944 -
American actor Danny DeVito began his rise to fame on the TV show Taxi. Since then, he's starred in feature films such as Twins and Ruthless People, and on the popular show It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Born: November 17, 1944
Age: 68 years old
Birthplace: Neptune, New Jersey, United States
Occupation: Actor, Filmmaker -
Howard Dean
- In these groups:
- Political Party Crashers
- Candidates with Babies
- Famous Scorpios
Howard Dean
Doctor, Governor / 1948 -
American politician Howard Dean is best known for running for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination.
1948 | 64 years old
Doctor, Governor -
Lorne Michaels
- In these groups:
- Famous Scorpios
- Famous Television Producers
- Famous Emmy Winners
Lorne Michaels
Television Producer / 1944 -
Lorne Michaels is a TV producer known for creating and shaping the late-night show Saturday Night Live.1944 | 68 years old
Television Producer
November 17
Died on This Day
-
Auguste Rodin
- In these groups:
- Fantastic Facial Hair
- Famous Scorpios
- Famous Sculptors
Auguste Rodin
Sculptor / 1840 - 1917
French sculptor Auguste Rodin is known for creating several iconic works, including "The Age of Bronze," "The Thinker," "The Kiss" and "The Burghers of Calais."
Died: November 17, 1917
Age: 77 years old
Place: Meudon , France
Occupation: Sculptor -
Esther Rolle
- In these groups:
- TV Moms: 1970s
- Gap-Toothed Grinners
- Famous Scorpios
Esther Rolle
Film Actress, Theater Actress, Television Actress / 1920 - 1998
A stage, film and TV actress, Esther Rolle is best remembered as Florida Evans -- a character she played on two comedy series, Maude and Good Times.
1998 | 78 years old
Film Actress, Theater Actress, ... -
Mary Tudor
- In these groups:
- Famous Aquarians
- Famous Queens
- Famous People Named Mary
Mary Tudor
Queen / 1516 - 1558
Mary Tudor was queen of England from 1553 to 1558. She became known as "Bloody Mary" for her persecution of Protestants.
1558 | 42 years old
Queen
Email Updates
Quiz
about Biography?
Answer questions and see how you rank against other players.
Play Nowprofile name: Martin Scorsese profile occupation: Director, Producer
profile id: 9346082
profile name: Rock Hudson profile occupation: Film Actor
profile id: 9496658
profile name: Lee Strasberg profile occupation: Educator
profile id: 9542289
profile name: Danny DeVito profile occupation: Actor, Filmmaker
profile id: 10102632
profile name: Howard Dean profile occupation: Doctor, Governor
profile id: 16242370
profile name: Lorne Michaels profile occupation: Television Producer
profile id: 9461735
profile name: Auguste Rodin profile occupation: Sculptor
profile id: 222421
profile name: Esther Rolle profile occupation: Film Actress, Theater Actress, ...
profile id: 9401296
profile name: Mary Tudor profile occupation: Queen
profile id: 9517249
profile name: Giuseppe Verdi profile occupation: Songwriter
profile id: 9287574
profile name: Douglas C Engelbart profile occupation: Inventor
profile id: 9424076
profile name: Richard Nixon profile occupation: U.S. President
profile id: 487988
profile name: Kristen Stewart profile occupation: Television Actress
profile id: 438798
profile name: Robert Pattinson profile occupation: Film Actor
profile id: 456668
profile name: Stephenie Meyer profile occupation: Author
profile id: 9286133
profile name: Queen Elizabeth I profile occupation: Queen
profile id: 9401343
profile name: Queen Mary I profile occupation: Royalty
profile id: 218221
profile name: Jane Wyatt profile occupation: Television Actress
profile id: 9447901
profile name: E. Annie Proulx profile occupation: Author
profile id: 236029
profile name: John Allen Muhammad profile occupation: Murderer
profile id: 37917
profile name: Alan Shepard profile occupation: Astronaut
profile id: 40201
profile name: José Raúl Capablanca profile occupation: Chess Player
profile id: 39995
profile name: Joe Biden profile occupation: U.S. Representative
profile id: 39198
profile name: Empress Frederick profile occupation: Queen
Your Connections
Sign in with Facebook to see how you and your friends are connected to famous icons.
Upcoming Birthdays
-
Alan Shepard
- In these groups:
- Famous Scorpios
- Famous Astronauts
- Famous People Named Alan
Alan Shepard
Astronaut, Entrepreneur / 1923 - 1998
Alan Shepard became one of the original seven Mercury program astronauts in 1959. He later commanded the Apollo 14 flight.
November 18, 1923
Astronaut -
José Raúl Capablanca
- In these groups:
- Famous Scorpios
- Famous Chess Players
- Columbia University Alumni
José Raúl Capablanca
Chess Player / 1888 - 1942
Chess master José Raúl Capablanca won the world championship (1921) from Emanuel Lasker and lost it (1927) to Alexander Alekhine.
November 19, 1888
Chess Player -
Joe Biden
- In these groups:
- Famous Irish-Americans
- 2012 Election Candidates
- Candidates with Babies
Joe Biden
U.S. Vice President, U.S. Representative / 1942 -
Former Delaware Senator Joe Biden was elected the 47th U.S. vice president with President Barack Obama in 2008. He earned a second term as vice president when Obama was re-elected to the presidency in 2012.
November 20, 1942
U.S. Representative -
Empress Frederick
- In these groups:
- Famous Scorpios
- Famous Empresses
- Famous Queens
Empress Frederick
Empress, Queen / 1840 - 1901
Empress Frederick was the oldest child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of England. She married the future German Emperor Frederick III in 1858, thusly becoming empress of Germany and queen of Prussia.
November 21, 1840
Queen
Famous Scorpios
-
Fernando Valenzuela
- In these groups:
- Hispanic Athletes
- Famous Scorpios
- Famous Baseball Players
Fernando Valenzuela
Baseball Player / 1960 -
Professional baseball player Fernando Valenzuela was a cultural icon in Mexico and the U.S. Latino community. In 1981, he was named Rookie of the Year.November 1, 1960
Baseball Player -
Peter Jackson
- In these groups:
- Weight Loss Winners
- Best Director Oscar Winners
- Best Screenplay Oscar Winners
Peter Jackson
Director, Producer / 1961 -
New Zealand native Peter Jackson is best known as a director for his adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy, which has won 11 Oscars.
October 31, 1961
Director, Producer
