Famous people and celebrities born in February 1917
Welcome to our dedicated page for celebrating the notable individuals born in February 1917! This month and year saw the birth of many influential figures who have made significant contributions to various fields, including entertainment, sports, politics, and more. Explore the biographies and achievements of these famous personalities and see how their talents have shaped the world. Join us in honoring the stars born in this memorable time.
- Feb. 1 José Luis Sampedro
Renowned Spanish economist, writer, and academic who made significant contributions to economic theory and social critique.
- Feb. 1 Eiji Sawamura
Famous Japanese baseball player and soldier who died during World War II, known for his exceptional pitching skills and tragic early death.
- Feb. 2 Mary Ellis
British female pilot who courageously transported aircraft during World War II, playing a critical role in the war effort by ferrying planes between military bases.
- Feb. 2 Đỗ Mười
Prominent Vietnamese communist politician who served as the 5th Prime Minister of Vietnam from 1991 to 1997, playing a significant role in the country's political transformation.
- Feb. 4 Yahya Khan
Yahya Khan was a Pakistani military general and politician who served as the third President of Pakistan from 1969 to 1971, during a critical period that included the Bangladesh Liberation War.
- Feb. 5 Isuzu Yamada
Renowned Japanese actress known for her significant contributions to Japanese cinema during the mid-20th century, particularly in classic films of the 1940s and 1950s.
- Feb. 6 Zsa Zsa Gabor
Zsa Zsa Gabor was a famous Hungarian-American actress, socialite, and celebrity known for her glamorous lifestyle, multiple marriages, and witty personality. She was a prominent Hollywood personality who appeared in numerous films and television shows throughout her career.
- Feb. 6 Leroy Alldredge
Leroy Alldredge was a distinguished American geophysicist who held significant research and leadership roles in earth sciences. He worked for the National Oceanographic Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Geological Survey, contributing to scientific understanding of earth processes.
- Feb. 7 Raymond Bisplinghoff
A prominent American aeronautical engineer who served as dean at MIT, chancellor of the University of Missouri, and vice president of research at Tyco Laboratories.
- Feb. 11 Sidney Sheldon
Prolific American novelist and screenwriter who sold over 300 million books worldwide. He wrote numerous bestsellers and was successful in television and film before becoming a renowned novelist.
- Feb. 11 Giuseppe De Santis
Influential Italian neorealist film director known for creating socially conscious cinema in the 1940s and 1950s. His films were powerful critiques of social inequalities in post-war Italy.
- Feb. 12 Joseph Wresinski
French Catholic priest who founded the international movement ATD Fourth World, dedicated to fighting extreme poverty and social exclusion.
- Feb. 13 Alain Poiré
Renowned French film producer who was responsible for over 200 films during his prolific career in the French cinema industry.
- Feb. 14 Herbert Hauptman
Nobel Prize-winning mathematician and crystallographer who revolutionized the field of X-ray crystallography by developing mathematical methods to determine molecular structures. His groundbreaking work enabled scientists to understand the three-dimensional arrangement of atoms in complex molecules.
- Feb. 15 Robert Haack
Prominent American business executive who served as chairman of Lockheed Corporation in 1976, successfully rebuilding and stabilizing the company's financial position during a critical period.
- Feb. 16 Pierre Deniker
A prominent French psychiatrist who played a crucial role in the development of chlorpromazine (Thorazine), a groundbreaking antipsychotic medication. He was instrumental in demonstrating the drug's effectiveness in treating schizophrenia and reducing patient anxiety.
- Feb. 17 Guillermo González Camarena
Mexican inventor who pioneered color television technology and made significant contributions to television broadcasting in Mexico. His color television transmission system was groundbreaking for its time and influenced global television development.
- Feb. 19 Carson McCullers
Carson McCullers was a significant Southern Gothic novelist and writer who explored themes of loneliness, alienation, and human complexity in her groundbreaking works. She is best known for her debut novel 'The Heart is a Lonely Hunter', published when she was just 23 years old. Her writing profoundly influenced 20th-century American literature.
- Feb. 20 Manny Farber
Influential American artist, film critic, and painter known for his innovative art criticism and unique painting style.
- Feb. 21 Tadd Dameron
Tadd Dameron was an influential jazz musician, composer, and arranger who significantly contributed to the bebop movement and worked with legendary musicians like John Coltrane.
- Feb. 22 Sybil Leek
Renowned British witch, astrologer, and author who popularized modern witchcraft and became a prominent figure in the occult community during the mid-20th century. She established the first astrological management consulting company and was widely known as the 'witch of Coven'.
- Feb. 25 Brenda Joyce
Brenda Joyce was a prominent American actress during the Golden Age of Hollywood, known for her roles in numerous films throughout the 1930s and 1940s.
- Feb. 25 Anthony Burgess
Anthony Burgess was a renowned English writer, linguist, and composer best known for his dystopian novel 'A Clockwork Orange', which became a landmark work of 20th-century literature and was famously adapted into a film by Stanley Kubrick.
- Feb. 26 Robert Taft
Robert Taft was a prominent Republican U.S. Senator from Ohio, representing the state from 1971 to 1976. He came from a distinguished political family, being the son and grandson of notable political figures, including former President William Howard Taft.
- Feb. 27 John Connally
John Connally was a prominent Texas politician who was seriously wounded during the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, surviving multiple gunshot wounds that day.
- Feb. 27 George Mitchell
George Mitchell was a prominent United States Senator from Maine, best known for his crucial diplomatic role in negotiating the Good Friday Agreement, which brought peace to Northern Ireland after decades of conflict.
- Feb. 28 Odette Laure
French actress and singer known for her performances in mid-20th century French cinema and theater. She had a notable career spanning several decades in entertainment.