As you prepare to celebrate National Thrift Shop Day, remember that August 17 is the birthday of famous people like Robert De Niro, one of the greatest and most influential actors of all time; Arsenal and French legend Thierry Henry, one of the greatest footballers of all time and now a coach of the French U23 football National Team; and Marcus Garvey, founder, and staunch proponent of the black nationalist movement.
The famous people born on August 17 are not limited and include individuals from different fields of endeavor, such as actors, scientists and inventors, sportspersons, and more. If you want to learn more about famous people born today, this article has you covered.
Who Aret The Famous People’s Born Today: August 17?
Join the NewsGod as we celebrate the birthday of famous people born today:
Robert De Niro is 81 years old today.

A man regarded as one of the greatest and most influential actors of all time, Robert De Niro is the son of legendary Robert De Niro Sr., a celebrated abstract expressionist painter, and Virginia Admiral, a painter and poet. His father is of Irish and Italian descent, and his mother is of Dutch, English, French, and German ancestry. . He was born in New York City, New York, United States, on August 17, 1943.
Robert’s parents separated when he was two years old, and De Niro was primarily raised by his mother in the Greenwich Village and Little Italy neighborhoods of Manhattan. His father remained a significant influence in his life, and De Niro often spent time with him as well. He attended several schools, including PS 41, Elisabeth Irwin High School, High School of Music & Art, and Rhodes Preparatory School. Reborts honed his acting skills at Stella Adler Conservatory, where he studied acting at HB Studio.
His first film role came at the age of 10 playing the Cowardly Lion in “The Wizard of Oz.” Robert’s professional career began with minor roles, but he gained fame in 1973 with his role in “Bang the Drum Slowly.”
De Niro’s role as young Vito Corleone in “The Godfather Part II” (1974) won him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He continued to produce masterpiece performances with his roles in “Taxi Driver” (1976), “Raging Bull” (1980), for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor, “The Deer Hunter” (1978), “Goodfellas” (1990), and “Cape Fear” (1991).
His versatility was evident in films like “Midnight Run” (1988) and “Meet the Parents” (2000).
In addition to acting, De Niro is a successful producer and director. In 2002, Robert and Rosenthal founded the Tribeca Film Festival , which has become a major event in the film industry. His directorial work includes A “Bronx Tale” (1993) and “The Good Shepherd” (2006).
Robert had been married twice, first to actress Diahnne Abbott in 1976. They had a son, Raphael, and De Niro adopted Drena, Abbott’s daughter from a previous relationship. The couple divorced in 1988. De Niro then married Grace Hightower in 1997, with whom he had two children: Elliot and Helen Grace. The couple separated in 1999, reconciled, and eventually divorced in 2018. De Niro also has twin sons, Aaron and Julian, born via surrogate with his former girlfriend, Toukie Smith. He became the oldest father on father on record at age 79 when he welcomed his seventh child with his girlfriend, Tiffany Chen.
As of 2024, Robert De Niro’s net worth is $500 million. His net worth is from his successful acting career, production company Tribeca Productions, and various business ventures, including his investment in restaurants and Hotels.
Robert De Niro’s contributions to film have earned two Academy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award, and the Kennedy Center Honor in 2009. In 2016, President Barack Obama awarded him Obama awarded him the Presidential Contributions to American Culture.
Quick Fact About Robert De Niro
- Robert De Niro made her first stage appearance at the age of 10.
- His parent divorced when he was two years old after his father came out as gay.
- Robert’s’ net worth is $500 million.
- He has seven children and became the oldest father on record at age 79.
Davy Crockett will have been 238 years old today.

Davy Crockett was a famous American frontiersman, folk hero, soldier, and politician. He was born to John Crockett and Rebecca Hawkins in Limestone, Greene County, Tennessee, United States, on August 17, 1786.
His parents were of Scotch-Irish descent, and he was one of nine children. From a young age, he was known for his adventurous spirit, often hunting and exploring the wilderness.
Davy spends his teenage years as a cowboy. He joined Jesse Cheek as a cattle driver from Front Royal, Virginia, and later worked on several farmlands. Davy enlisted as a scout with Francis Jones’s Company of Mounted Rifleman on a 90-day contract. He later served under Colonel John Coffee during the Creek War.
Davy Crockett married twice. His first marriage was to Polly Finley in 1806. They had three children: John Wesley, William Finley, and Margaret Finley. After Polly died in 1815, Crockett married Elizabeth Patton, a widow with two children. They had three more children: Robert, Rebecca, and Matilda.
Crockett’s first public service job was as a commissioner, where he helped to configure the new county’s boundaries when he moved to Lawrence County. His popularity grew, and he defeated Daniel Matthews to be elected lieutenant colonel of the Fifty-seventh Regiment of Tennessee Militia on March 27, 1818. He resigned as commissioner and won the seat to become the Tennessee General Assembly.
Davy’s political career reached a new height when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1827 for the people of Tennessee. He served three terms in Congress, where he was known for his opposition to President Andrew Jackson’s Indian Removal Act.
After leaving Congress in 1835, he relocated to Texas and joined the Texas Revolution, fighting against Mexican forces at the Alamo. He died at the Battle of the Alamo at 49 on March 6, 1836.
Quick Fact About Davy Crockett
- He was often referred to as “King of the Wild Frontier.”
- Davy was sent to serve Jacob Siler by his father to help pay the family debt.
- He died at the Battle of the Alamo at 49 on March 6, 1836.
- He married twice and had six children.
Mae West will have been 131 years old today.

On August 17, 1893, Mae West was born to Patrick West and Matilda “Tillie” Doelge in Brooklyn, New York, USA. Her father, Patrick West, was a prizefighter and later a special policeman who founded his own private investigations agency, and her mother, Matilda, was a corset and fashion model.
Mae West started entertaining audiences at the age of five at social events, and by the age of seven, he began appearing on amateur shows. Her professional career started at 14 in vaudeville at the Hal Clarendon Stock Company. She made her Broadway debut at the age of 18 in a 1911 revue, A La Broadway. Her initial stage was “Jane Mast.”
Her first major Broadway performance was in “SEX,” which she wrote, produced, and directed; it was implied in controversy as she was arrested and jailed for ten days in 1926 on obscenity charges.
In 1932, Mae West transitioned from stage to film, signing a two-month contract with Paramount Pictures at the age of 40. Her first debut film, “Night After Night” (1932), and later the film “She Done Him Wrong” (1933), which was a success and earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. Her performance and dedication made her one of the highest-paid actresses of her era.
West continued to star in several films, including “I’m No Angel” (1933), “Belle of the Nineties” (1934), “Klondike Annie” (1936), “Go West, Young Man” (1936), and “My Little Chickadee“ (1940). Her career slowed in the 1940s and 1950s, but she continued to appear occasionally on stage, in films, and on television, with her last film appearance in “Sextette” (1977).
Mae West was married twice. In 1911, when she was just 17 years old, she married Frank Szatkus, also known as Frank Wallace. The marriage was kept secret and later annulled. In 1914, she married Guido Deiro, a vaudeville performer, but they divorced shortly afterward. Mae West never had any children and was known for her independent lifestyle.
She was awarded the Hollywood Walk of Fame star for contributing to the film industry and the American Theater Hall of Fame. Mae West suffered a series of strokes, which finally resulted in her death at age 88 on November 22, 1980
Quick Fact About Mae West
- Mae West’s name given at birth is Mary Jane West.
- She began performing at seven and made her professional debut at 14.
- West appeared in 12 films and made her film debut at 40.
- She became one of the highest-paid actresses at the time.
- Mae married twice and had no children.
John Humphrys is 81 years old today.

Another famous person born today, August 17, is ace Welsh broadcaster John Humphrys. Born to George Humphrys, a French polisher, and Winifred Mary Mathews, a hairdresser, in 1943 in Adamsdown, Cardiff, Wales.
John Humphry’s career in journalism began at the age of 15 when he left school to join the Penarth Times as a reporter. He later joined Western Mail, a regional newspaper based in Cardiff, and Television Wales and the West (TWW), also based in Wales.
His dedication and hard work paid off when he joined the BBC as the district reporter for Liverpool and the north-west and later as a foreign correspondent. He reported from various conflict zones, including South Africa. John returned to the UK and took the position of BBC Diplomatic Correspondent.
Humphrys became a household name in 1981 as the main presenter on the BBC’s Nine O’Clock News. In 1987, he became the principal presenter of the BBC Radio 4 program. Today, a program he anchored until 2019, becoming Humphrys, has become one of Britain’s most respected and feared journalists.
In addition to his work on Today, Humphrys hosted the BBC quiz show Mastermind from 2003 until 2021. He has also authored several books, including memoirs and commentary on political and social issues.
John Humphrys has been married twice. His first marriage was to Edna Wilding in 1964, with whom he had two children, Christopher and Catherine. The couple divorced in 1997. He later married Valerie Sanderson, a journalist, with whom he had a son, Owen.
There have been different reports on John Humphreys’ net worth, but according to our checks, as of 2024, John’s net worth is $4 million. John holds an honorary degree from Abertay University and won the Sony Gold Award for Radio Personality of the Year.
Quick Fact About John Humphrys
- John Humphrys left school at age 15 to be a reporter for Penarth Times.
- He joined BBC in 1966.
- John is known for her charity works, with the establishment of the Kitchen Table Charities Trust (KTCT).
- His net worth is $4 million.
More Famous People Birthday: August 17.
Thierry Henry is 47 years old today.

BirthYear: 1977
Place Of Birth: Les Ulis, France
Profession: Football coach
Nelsin Piquet is 72 years old today.

BirthYear: 1952
Place Of Birth: Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Profession: Motorsports racing driver and businessman
Kevin Rowland is 71 years old today.

BirthYear: 1953
Place Of Birth: Wednesfield, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
Profession: Singer and musician
Belinda Carlisle is 66 years old today.

BirthYear: 1958
Place Of Birth: Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
Profession: Singer and songwriter
Sean Penn is 64 years old today.

BirthYear: 1960
Place Of Birth: Santa Monica, California, United States
Profession: Actor and film director
Gilbey Clarke is 62 years old today.

BirthYear: 1962
Place Of Birth: Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Profession: Guitarist and singer
Philippe Paquet is 53 years old today.

BirthYear: 1971
Place Of Birth: Senlis, Oise, Picardie, France
Profession: Producer
Claire Richards is 47 years old today.

BirthYear: 1977
Place Of Birth: Hillingdon, United Kingdom
Profession: Singer
Austin Butler is 33 years old today.

BirthYear: 1991
Place Of Birth: Anaheim, California, United States
Profession: Actor
Helen McCrory will have been 53 years old today.

BirthYear: 1968
Place Of Birth: Paddington, London, United Kingdom
Profession: Actress
Marcus Garvey is 53 years old today.

BirthYear: 1887
Place Of Birth: Saint Ann\’s Bay, Jamaica
Profession: Proponent
Ederson is 31 years old today.

BirthYear: 1993
Place Of Birth: Osasco, State of São Paulo, Brazil
Profession: Professional footballer
Paige is 32 years old today.

BirthYear: 1992
Place Of Birth: Norwich, United Kingdom
Profession: Professional wrestler
Donnie Wahlberg is 55 years old today.

BirthYear: 1969
Place Of Birth: Dorchester, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Profession: singer-songwriter and actor