Famous people born on November 17th
November 17 is a notably wide-ranging birthday on the calendar, spanning Nobel-level science, landmark filmmaking, global industry, and public service. The date brings together innovators who reshaped how we build, perform, govern, and understand the natural world. From ancient emperors to modern pop-culture figures, its roster reflects both historical depth and contemporary influence.
Notable highlights
- Martin Scorsese (1942) - A defining auteur of American cinema whose films and preservation work helped shape how movie history is made and remembered.
- Danny DeVito (1944) - A comedic and dramatic fixture who also became an influential producer championing distinctive, offbeat storytelling.
- Rachel McAdams (1978) - Known for seamlessly moving between romantic leads and nuanced dramatic roles across major studio and indie films.
- Jeff Buckley (1966) - A cult-defining singer-songwriter whose lone studio album gained lasting acclaim for its vocal range and emotional intensity.
- Soichiro Honda (1906) - The engineer-entrepreneur behind Honda, synonymous with practical innovation that put reliable mobility within reach worldwide.
- Rem Koolhaas (1944) - An architect and theorist whose provocative ideas about cities and modern life influenced contemporary design discourse.
- Eugene Wigner (1902) - A Nobel Prize-winning physicist celebrated for connecting symmetry and quantum mechanics, shaping modern theoretical physics.
- Grace Abbott (1878) - A leading Progressive Era reformer whose advocacy advanced child labor regulation and protections for immigrants.
- Isamu Noguchi (1904) - A sculptor and designer who bridged fine art and functional objects, leaving an enduring mark on modern aesthetics.
- Bernard Law Montgomery (1887) - A prominent British field commander of World War II, remembered for both strategic successes and a forceful public persona.
On this day
- 1558 - Elizabeth I ascends the English throne, inaugurating a reign that would reshape England's politics, culture, and maritime power.
- 1869 - The Suez Canal officially opens, transforming global trade by linking the Mediterranean and Red Seas.
- 1970 - The Soviet Union lands Lunokhod 1 on the Moon, the first successful remote-controlled rover to operate on another world.
- 1989 - The Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia begins with student-led demonstrations that help accelerate the end of communist rule.