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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.
October 31
Events on This Day
-
1517
496 years ago
Martin Luther posts his Ninety-Five Theses.
-
1955
58 years ago
Princess Margaret announces she will not marry the divorced Captain Peter Townsend, stating that her decision was made out of loyalty to the British crown.
-
1968
45 years ago
President Lyndon B. Johnson halts the U.S. bombing of North Vietnam as an act of goodwill to give peace talks a fair chance.
-
2002
11 years ago
Former Enron chief financial officer Andrew Fastow is indicted on 78 counts of fraud and other charges related to the collapse of Enron Corporation.
October 31
Born on This Day
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Christopher Columbus
- In these groups:
- Famous Scorpios
- Famous Explorers
- Famous People Named Christopher
Christopher Columbus
Explorer / 1451 - 1506
Famed Italian explorer Christopher Columbus discovered the "New World" of the Americas on an expedition sponsored by King Ferdinand of Spain in 1492.
Born: October 31, 1451
Birthplace: Genoa, Italy
Occupation: Explorer -
Michael Collins
- In these groups:
- Famous Scorpios
- Famous Astronauts
- Famous People Named Michael
Michael Collins
Astronaut / 1930 -
Michael Collins is a former astronaut who was part of the Gemini 10 and Apollo 11 missions, the latter of which included the first lunar landing in history.
1930 | 82 years old
Astronaut -
Michael Landon
- In these groups:
- Name Changers
- TV Dads
- Famous Scorpios
Michael Landon
Television Actor / 1936 - 1991
Michael Landon was an American actor, writer, director and producer known for his roles in I Was a Teenage Werewolf, Bonanza and Little House on the Prairie.
1936 | 54 years old
Television Actor -
Jane Pauley
- In these groups:
- Female Talk Show Hosts
- Girl Scouts
- Famous Scorpios
Jane Pauley
Talk Show Host, News Anchor / 1950 -
Jane Pauley was a correspondent and co-anchor for NBC’s Today. She also started the weekly magazine series Real Life with Jane Pauley, later renamed Dateline.
Born: October 31, 1950
Age: 62 years old
Birthplace: Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Occupation: Talk Show Host, News Anchor -
Dan Rather
- In these groups:
- Famous Scorpios
- Famous News Anchors
- Famous People Named Dan
Dan Rather
News Anchor / 1931 -
Dan Rather is one of America’s most well-known journalists, having worked for CBS News for more than four decades.
1931 | 81 years old
News Anchor -
John Candy
- In these groups:
- Famous Scorpios
- Famous Actors
- Famous Film Actors
John Candy
Film Actor / 1950 - 1994
Comedian John Candy was a regular performer for the Second City comedy troupe’s TV show, SCTV, and co-starred with Tom Hanks in the movie Splash.
1950 | 43 years old
Film Actor
October 31
Died on This Day
-
Harry Houdini
- In these groups:
- Famous Harlem Residents
- Creepy Actors
- Name Changers
Harry Houdini
Magician / 1874 - 1926
Harry Houdini's grand illusions and daring, spectacular escape acts made him one of the most famous magicians of all time.
Died: October 31, 1926
Age: 52 years old
Place: Detroit, Michigan , United States
Occupation: Magician -
P.W. Botha
- In these groups:
- Famous Capricorns
- Famous Prime Ministers
- Famous People Born in 1916
P.W. Botha
World Leader, Prime Minister / 1916 - 2006
P.W. Botha was a former South African prime minister and president who maintained the racial caste system of apartheid.2006 | 90 years old
World Leader, Prime Minister -
Federico FelliniFederico Fellini
Director / 1920 - 1993
Italian film director Federico Fellini was one of the most celebrated and distinctive filmmakers of the period after World War II.
1993 | 73 years old
Director -
River Phoenix
- In these groups:
- Vegans
- Elementals
- Famous Virgoans
River Phoenix
Film Actor / 1970 - 1993
River Phoenix was an Academy Award nominee and promising young actor who died at the young age of 23 from a drug overdose.
Died: October 31, 1993
Age: 23 years old
Place: West Hollywood, California , United States
Occupation: Film Actor -
Indira Gandhi
- In these groups:
- Notable Female Leaders
- Famous Scorpios
- Famous Prime Ministers
Indira Gandhi
Prime Minister / 1917 - 1984
Indira Gandhi was India's third prime minister, serving from 1966 until 1984, when her life ended in assassination. She was the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister.
1984 | 66 years old
Prime Minister -
Max Reinhardt
- In these groups:
- Famous Virgoans
- Famous Film Directors
- Famous Filmmakers
Max Reinhardt
Director / 1873 - 1943
Max Reinhardt was one of the first theatrical directors to achieve international recognition. He helped found the annual Salzburg Festival.
1943 | 70 years old
Director
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Play Nowprofile name: Christopher Columbus profile occupation: Explorer
profile id: 9253724
profile name: Michael Collins profile occupation: Astronaut
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profile name: Michael Landon profile occupation: Television Actor
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profile name: Jane Pauley profile occupation: Talk Show Host, News Anchor
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profile name: Dan Rather profile occupation: News Anchor
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profile name: John Candy profile occupation: Film Actor
profile id: 40056
profile name: Harry Houdini profile occupation: Magician
profile id: 9220773
profile name: P.W. Botha profile occupation: World Leader, Prime Minister
profile id: 9292860
profile name: Federico Fellini profile occupation: Director
profile id: 372698
profile name: River Phoenix profile occupation: Film Actor
profile id: 9305913
profile name: Indira Gandhi profile occupation: Prime Minister
profile id: 9454922
profile name: Max Reinhardt profile occupation: Director
profile id: 9389283
profile name: Martin Luther profile occupation: Theologian
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profile name: Princess Margaret profile occupation: Political Leader
profile id: 9356122
profile name: Lyndon B. Johnson profile occupation: U.S. Vice President
profile id: 234605
profile name: Andrew Fastow profile occupation: White Collar Criminal
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profile name: Arthur Conan Doyle profile occupation: Doctor
profile id: 9491723
profile name: Joseph Stalin profile occupation: Dictator
profile id: 9379007
profile name: Vladimir Lenin profile occupation: Political Scientist
profile id: 9498853
profile name: Ed Sullivan profile occupation: Television Personality
profile id: 9206804
profile name: George Harrison profile occupation: Musician
profile id: 306872
profile name: Ringo Starr profile occupation: Actor
profile id: 9390850
profile name: Paul McCartney profile occupation: Animal Rights Activist
profile id: 9379045
profile name: John Lennon profile occupation: Songwriter
profile id: 37003
profile name: Fernando Valenzuela profile occupation: Baseball Player
profile id: 307312
profile name: Sid Luft profile occupation: Producer
profile id: 37178
profile name: Stephen Austin profile occupation: Military Leader
profile id: 39614
profile name: Ciro Alegría profile occupation: Activist
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Upcoming Birthdays
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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 -
Sid Luft
- In these groups:
- Famous Scorpios
- Famous Film Producers
- Famous Filmmakers
Sid Luft
Producer / 1915 - 2005
American film producer Sid Luft was the third husband of famed performer Judy Garland. He is credited with reviving her career in the 1950s.
November 2, 1915
Producer -
Stephen Austin
- In these groups:
- Famous Military Veterans
- Famous Scorpios
- Famous Military Leaders
Stephen Austin
Military Leader / 1793 - 1836
American empresario Stephen Austin, a.k.a. “the father of Texas,” created the first Anglo American colony in the Tejas region of Mexico, later to become Texas.
November 3, 1793
Military Leader -
Ciro Alegría
- In these groups:
- Famous Scorpios
- Famous Activists
- Famous Fiction Authors
Ciro Alegría
Activist, Author / 1909 - 1967
Ciro Alegria was a Peruvian novelist who wrote about the struggles of the Peruvian Indians, and whose militant pro-Indian activism led to his arrest and exile.
November 4, 1909
Activist
Famous Scorpios
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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
