December 17 birthdays and deaths:

Rumi

Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rumi, a 13th-century Persian poet, jurist, and theologian, lived a life of spiritual quest and devotion. His poetic genius and teachings continue to inspire seekers of truth and wisdom around the world, leaving a lasting legacy of love and mystical insight.

Deathyear: 1273

Leopold II of Belgium

Leopold II of Belgium, born in 1835, ruled from 1865 to 1909. He expanded the Congo Free State, a personal possession, and exploited its rich resources, leading to the deaths of millions of Africans. He was known for his authoritarian rule and brutal suppression of dissent.

Deathyear: 1909

Simón Bolívar

Simón Bolívar, a Venezuelan general and politician, led independence movements in South America, defeating Spanish colonizers. As President of Venezuela's Gran Colombia, he promoted unity and modernization. Nicknamed "Liberator" for his role in ending colonial rule, Bolívar remains a revered figure in Venezuelan history.

Deathyear: 1830

Kim Jong Il

Kim Jong-il was the son of North Korea's founding leader Kim Il-sung and served as Supreme Leader from 1994 until his death in 2011. He consolidated power, implemented economic reforms, and maintained authoritarian rule, earning the nickname "Dear Leader."

Deathyear: 2011

Jennifer Jones

Jennifer Jones (b.1919) was a renowned American actress, winning the Academy Award for Best Actress for "The Song of Bernadette" (1943) and starring in films like "Love is a Many-Splendored Thing" (1955) and "The Man of a Thousand Faces" (1957).

Deathyear: 2009

Marie Louise, Duchess of Parma

Marie Louise, Duchess of Parma, was the last of the Habsburg royal family to reign. Born in 1791, she married Napoleon Bonaparte in 1810 and became Empress of the French. After Napoleon's defeat, she was exiled to Parma, where she ruled as Duchess until her death in 1847.

Deathyear: 1847

Dana Andrews

Dana Andrews was a talented American actor born in 1909, known for his distinctive voice and distinctive acting style. He appeared in over 200 films and TV shows, including the Alfred Hitchcock classic "The Lost Weekend" and "The Fall of the House of Usher".

Deathyear: 1992

Captain Beefheart

Captain Beefheart, born Don Van Vliet, was a pioneering American singer-songwriter and musician known for his experimental and avant-garde music style, released 13 albums with his group The Magic Band, and is considered one of the most influential and innovative musicians of the 20th century.

Deathyear: 2010

Nzinga of Ndongo and Matamba

Nzinga of Ndongo and Matamba was a powerful African queen who ruled several kingdoms in present-day Angola from 1624 to 1663. She united rival kingdoms and led successful wars against the Portuguese colonizers, earning her reputation as a shrewd politician and fierce warrior.

Deathyear: 1663

Daniel Inouye

Daniel Inouye was a remarkable American politician who served for over 50 years in Congress. He was a decorated war hero, Purple Heart recipient, and Democratic Senator from Hawaii from 1963 to 2012, known for his toughness, compassion, and commitment to public service.

Deathyear: 2012

Chris Henry (wide receiver)

Chris Henry was an American football wide receiver who played in the NFL for seven seasons. He played for the Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, and New England Patriots. Henry was a talented player, known for his speed and agility on the field. Tragically, his life and career were cut short at just 26 years old.

Deathyear: 2009

Harold Holt

Harold Holt was a remarkable Australian politician who served as the 17th Prime Minister of Australia from 1966 to 1967. A lawyer by training, Holt was a Laborite who played a significant role in shaping Australian politics during his term in office.

Deathyear: 1967

Ronaldo Valdez

Ronaldo Valdez is a renowned Filipino actor, born in 1947, known for his exceptional acting skills and versatility in playing various roles. He has appeared in numerous films and television shows, earning him the title "King of Pinoy Movies."

Deathyear: 2023

James McCaffrey (actor)

James McCaffrey is a talented American actor born in 1958. He gained recognition for his roles in TV series "Rescue Me" and films "The Negotiator" and "Heist." His impressive performances earned him a Golden Globe nomination and a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination.

Deathyear: 2023

13th Dalai Lama

The 13th Dalai Lama, Tubten Gyatso, was born in 1876 and served as the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people from 1895 until his death in 1933. He played a crucial role in preserving Tibetan culture and Buddhism, while also seeking to maintain Tibetan independence during a tumultuous period in Tibetan history.

Deathyear: 1933

Dorothy L. Sayers

Dorothy L. Sayers was a renowned English author, poet, and playwright. Born in 1893, she is best known for her Murder Must Advertise detective series, featuring Lord Peter Wimsey. Her works are celebrated for their witty dialogue, clever plots, and well-developed characters.

Deathyear: 1957

Thomas Mitchell (actor)

Thomas Mitchell was a character actor with a distinctive voice and expressive face. Born in Elizabeth, New Jersey in 1892, he appeared in over 100 films, including "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Gone with the Wind," earning an Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of Uncle Billy.

Deathyear: 1962

Kaspar Hauser

Kaspar Hauser, a German feral child, was allegedly abandoned in the Black Forest at birth in 1812. Found in 1828, he had no language skills, limited vocabulary, and primitive physical abilities. His mysterious origins sparked widespread fascination and debate about his identity and upbringing.

Deathyear: 1833

Alaina Reed Hall

Alaina Reed Hall was an American actress born in 1946, best known for her roles as Olivia Spencer-Pete on the TV show "30 Rock" and as Mindy Cohan on "Gimme a Break!".

Deathyear: 2009

William Longsword

William I, also known as William the Conqueror, was the duke of Normandy from 1035 to 1087. He was a powerful and determined leader who waged war with England, conquering the kingdom in 1066 and crowning himself king, establishing the Norman dynasty in England.

Deathyear: 942

Otto Graham

Otto Graham was a legendary American football player and coach. A four-time NFL champion, he won two Super Bowls with the Cleveland Browns. He also played professionally with the Akron Bears and served as coach of the Washington Redskins.

Deathyear: 2003

Grover Washington Jr.

Grover Washington Jr. was a renowned American saxophonist and singer-songwriter, known for his smooth, soulful sound and jazz-pop fusion style. With hits like "Just the Two of Us" and "Specially for You", he bridged jazz and pop, earning 11 Grammy nominations and selling over 11 million records worldwide.

Deathyear: 1999

Jeremy Bulloch

Jeremy Bulloch, a British actor of stage and screen, was born on February 16, 1945. He is perhaps best known for his iconic roles in the Star Wars franchise, playing Boba Fett in "The Empire Strikes Back" (1980) and "Return of the Jedi" (1983).

Deathyear: 2020

Sammy Baugh

Sammy Baugh, a pioneering NFL quarterback and coach, played for the Washington Redskins (1937-1952) and led the team to two NFL championships. He was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963.

Deathyear: 2008

Lord Kelvin

William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin, was a renowned Irish-Scottish physicist and engineer who made groundbreaking contributions to thermodynamics, electromagnetism, and oceanography. He formulated the laws of thermodynamics and coined the term "kelvin" for the temperature scale. His work revolutionized physics and engineering in the 19th century.

Deathyear: 1907

Henry Heimlich

Henry Heimlich, an American thoracic surgeon, developed the Heimlich maneuver, a lifesaving technique to dislodge foreign objects from the airway. Born in 1920, he has published over 300 medical papers and holds over 40 patents in his field.

Deathyear: 2016

Gordon Hunt (director)

Gordon Hunt is an American voice director, born in 1929. With a career spanning over six decades, Hunt has directed voice actors for numerous animated TV shows, films, and video games, earning him numerous awards, including multiple Annie and Emmy Awards.

Deathyear: 2016

William Gascoigne

William Gascoigne (1612-1644) was a prominent English lawyer and Chief Justice of England. He played a key role in establishing the authority of the Common Law courts, and his judicial decisions had a lasting impact on English legal institutions.

Deathyear: 1419

Eleanor of Toledo

Eleonora di Toledo, Grand Duchess of Tuscany, was a powerful and influential matriarch who ruled alongside her husband, Francesco I de' Medici. Born in 1522, she was known for her beauty, intelligence, and strong will, and played a significant role in shaping the Medici dynasty's fate.

Deathyear: 1562

Elizabeth Garrett Anderson

Elizabeth Garrett Anderson (1836-1917) was a pioneering English physician and activist who gained access to medical education despite facing sexism and gender barriers. She became a qualified doctor and co-founded the New Hospital for Women in London, advocating for women's rights in medicine.

Deathyear: 1917

Marguerite Yourcenar

Marguerite Yourcenar was a Belgian-American author and poet, born in 1903. She is best known for her novel "Memphis" and her poetry collection "Anima Rex". She was a pioneer for women's writing and LGBTQ+ literature, and is considered one of the most important writers of the 20th century.

Deathyear: 1987

Jack Anderson (columnist)

Jack Anderson was a renowned American journalist and author, known for his investigative work and exposure of political scandals. Born in 1922, he was a prominent figure in the Washington D.C. journalistic scene, earning him numerous awards and praise for his courageous reporting.

Deathyear: 2005

Günther Anders

Günther Anders (1902-1992), a German philosopher and journalist, critiqued modern society's emphasis on technology and consumerism. He coined the term "atomic age" and wrote extensively on the human implications of scientific progress, highlighting the disconnection between scientific achievements and human values.

Deathyear: 1992

Rex Allen

Rex Allen, known as the "Rugged Rider of the Silver Screen," was an American singer-songwriter and actor born in 1920. With a career spanning over five decades, he starred in numerous Western films, released country music albums, and hosted his own TV show, "Rex Trailer's Riders of the Purple Sage."

Deathyear: 1999

Peter Warlock

Peter Warlock (1904-1982) was a Welsh composer, critic, and writer, known for his modernistic and theatrical works. His compositions, such as the opera "Bran Castle," showcased his unique blend of styles, while his critiques for the journal "The Musical Times" offered insightful commentary on British music.

Deathyear: 1930

Francis Beaufort

Francis Beaufort was a renowned Irish hydrographer and Royal Navy officer. Born in 1774, Beaufort was known for his meticulous cartography and navigation skills. He played a crucial role in charting the coasts of British Isles and other international waters, contributing significantly to maritime navigation and exploration.

Deathyear: 1857

Don Ellis

Don Ellis was a pioneering American trumpet player, composer, and bandleader known for his technical virtuosity and innovative approach. Born in 1934, Ellis explored multiple styles, from swing and bebop to free jazz and electronic music, leading his own bands and collaborating with esteemed musicians.

Deathyear: 1978

Linda Wong (pornographic actress)

Linda Wong was a renowned American porn actress, born in 1951. She was one of the earliest and most popular adult film stars, starring in over 620 films. Her career spanned from the early 1970s to the mid-1980s, earning her the nickname "Queen of the XXX Film Industry."

Deathyear: 1987

Tom Wesselmann

Tom Wesselmann (1931-2004) was a renowned American painter and sculptor known for his provocative and intimate depictions of the human form. His work often combined figuration and abstraction, exploring themes of eroticism, mortality, and the human condition.

Deathyear: 2004