Famous people born on March 17th
March 17 has produced an impressively wide-ranging roster of notable figures, spanning sport, music, literature, film, fashion, public service, and scholarship. The date links performers who shaped popular culture with innovators who changed how people think, compete, and create. From trailblazing athletes to influential writers and iconic entertainers, this birthday lineup offers a vivid cross-section of modern and historical achievement.
Notable highlights
- Mia Hamm (1972) - A defining U.S. soccer star whose record-setting career helped turn the women's game into a mainstream global spectacle.
- William Gibson (1948) - The novelist who popularized cyberpunk and helped cement "cyberspace" as a lasting idea in tech culture and fiction.
- Nat King Cole (1919) - A velvet-voiced pianist-singer whose recordings became standards and whose TV breakthrough marked a milestone in American entertainment.
- Gloria Swanson (1899) - A silent-film powerhouse whose later comeback reinforced her legend as one of Hollywood's most enduring stars.
- Rob Lowe (1964) - A screen mainstay who evolved from 1980s icon to acclaimed comedic and dramatic television presence.
- Rudolf Nureyev (1938) - A revolutionary ballet dancer whose technique and charisma reshaped male stardom in dance after his dramatic Cold War defection.
- Alexander McQueen (1969) - A visionary designer celebrated for theatrical runway storytelling and daring tailoring that redefined modern fashion's emotional range.
- Gary Sinise (1955) - An actor known for gravitas on screen and a major philanthropic focus supporting service members and veterans.
- Billy Corgan (1967) - The principal songwriter behind The Smashing Pumpkins, blending alt-rock ambition with layered production and confessional lyricism.
On this day
- 461 - Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, dies according to tradition, later giving rise to widespread March 17 observances.
- 1776 - British forces evacuate Boston during the American Revolutionary War after Continental artillery is positioned on Dorchester Heights.
- 1948 - The Brussels Treaty is signed, creating a Western European defense and cooperation pact that helped pave the way toward NATO.
- 1992 - South Africa holds a referendum in which white voters endorse ending apartheid reforms, strengthening the path to majority-rule negotiations.