Today, we celebrate and honor famous people born on July 17, including Earle Stanley Gardner, James Cagney, Phyllis Diller, Kenneth Wolstenholme D.F.C., Donald Sutherland, Diahann Carroll, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Spencer Davis, Wayne Sleep, David Hasselhoff, Natasha Hamilton, and many others. These above-listed influential figures hail from various fields, including politics, sports, academics, entertainment, and health. Their legacies and contributions inspire current and future generations, serving as a testament to their enduring impact.
Join The Ne News God Team to celebrate and explore the lives of these influential personalities born on July 17. This is a unique opportunity to learn more about these famous people’s lives and contributions.
Who Are The Famous People’s Born Today: July 17?
Today, we celebrate the birthdays of famous people who contributed significantly to their respective fields. Scroll down to discover and explore the famous people born on this day, July 17:
James Cagney will have been 125 years old today.
James Cagney was a renowned American actor and dancer, regarded as one of the greatest Hollywood actors of all time. He was born in New York City, United States, on July 17, 1899. He was the second of seven children born to James Francis Cagney Sr., a bartender and amateur boxer, and Carolyn Nelson Cagney. I grew up in a modest Irish-American family on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in New York City.
Cagney attended Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan and later Columbia College but dropped out following his father’s death. He took on various odd jobs to help support his family, including working as a night doorkeeper, copyboy, draughtsman, and bellhop. His early interest in performing arts led him to try out for a role in a local production, where his talent for acting and dancing quickly became apparent.
Cagney’s professional career began as a dancer in a woman costume in the revue Every Sailor. He later spent several years in the vaudeville, performing in various roles, showcasing his versatility and energetic style as a comedian and dancer. His Broadway debut came in 1925 in the chorus line of “Pitter Patter,” which led to more productions such as “Broadway” and “Penny Arcade.” In “Penny Arcade”, Cagney’s performance caught the attention of Hollywood.
James Cagney’s transition to film came in 1930 when Warner Bros. signed him to a three-week contract. His breakout role as Tom Powers in The Public Enemy (1931) established him as one of Hollywood’s leading tough guys.
Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Cagney starred in a series of successful films, including “Angels with Dirty Faces” (1938), “The Roaring Twenties” (1939), and “Yankee Doodle Dandy” (1942).
Cagney’s career continued to flourish with memorable performances in films like “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye” (1950), “White Heat” (1949), and “A Lion Is in the Streets” (1953).
In the later years of his career, Cagney took on fewer roles, choosing to focus on his private interests and philanthropy. His final film appearance was in “Ragtime” (1981), where he delivered a powerful performance despite his advancing age and declining health.
At the time of his death in 1986, James Cagney’s net worth was $10 million. His net worth was accumulated through his successful acting career and wise investments. He died at the age of 86 on March 30, 1986.
James Cagney married Frances Willard Billie Vernon in 1922, and the couple remained together for over 60 years until Cagney’s death. They had two adopted children, James Jr. and Cathleen “Casey” Cagney. Cagney and his family lived on a farm in Dutchess County, New York, where he enjoyed painting and raising horses.
James Cagney received numerous awards and honors throughout his career. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Yankee Doodle Dandy. In 1974, he received the American Film Institute’s Life Achievement Award. Cagney was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1984.
Quick Fact About James Cagney
- Cagney’s full name is James Francis Cagney.
- His net worth as of the time of his death was $10 million.
- James died at age 86 and was survived by his wife, Frances Willard Billie Vernon, and two children.
- He won the Academy Award and Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Phyllis Diller will have been 107 years old today.
Phyllis Diller, born Phyllis Ada Driver, was a celebrated American stand-up comedian, actress, author, and musician renowned for breaking barriers in a male-dominated industry and paving the way for future generations of female entertainers.
She was born on July 17, 1917, in Lima, Ohio, United States, as the only child of Perry Marcus Driver, an insurance agent, and Frances Ada (Romshe) Driver. Phyllis attended Lima’sLima’s Central High School, and she pursued her passion for music and attended the Sherwood Conservatory of Music in Chicago, where she studied piano and later transferred to Bluffton College, where he studied literature, psychology, history, and philosophy.
while studying at Bluffton College she met Sherwood Anderson Diller, whom she married in 1939, they divorced in 1965. She married again to Warde Donovan Tatum in 1965 and divorced in 1975. Phyllis had six children.
Phyllis Diller’s professional career began in the 1950s when she decided to pursue stand-up comedy at the age of 37. She debuted at San Francisco’s Purple Onion nightclub, where her self-deprecating humor and wild persona quickly won over audiences. Diller’s unique style included exaggerated costumes, an over-the-top laugh, and jokes about her fictional husband, “Fang.”
Diller’s breakthrough came when she appeared on “The Tonight Show” hosted by Jack Paar in 1958. Her performance led to numerous television appearances, including frequent spots on “The Ed Sullivan Show” and “The Bob Hope Show.”
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Diller expanded her career to include acting roles in television and film. She starred in her sitcom, “The Phyllis Diller Show,” from 1966 to 1967 and appeared in movies such as “The Private Navy of Sgt. O’Farrell”O’Farrell” (1968)and “Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number!” (1966). Additionally, she lent her voice to animated films, including “A Bug’s Life” (1998).
Diller continued performing stand-up comedy well into her later years, with her last stand-up performance taking place in 2002. She also authored several books, including her autobiography, “Like a Lampshade in a Whorehouse – My Life in Comedy” (2006).
Phyllis Diller’s net worth was estimated to be $18 million at the time of her death in 2012, when she was 95.
Phyllis Diller received several awards and honors throughout her career. In 1992, she received the American Comedy Award for Lifetime Achievement. In 1993, she was honored with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star. Diller was also awarded the Women in Film Lucy Award in 1995, recognizing her contributions to comedy and television.
Quick Fact About Phyllis Diller
- Her net worth was $18 million at the time of her death.
- Phyllis Diller studied piano at the Sherwood Conservatory of Music in Chicago.
- She married twice and had six children.
- She received the American Comedy Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Natasha Hamilton is 42 years old today.
Natasha Hamilton is a renowned English singer and member of the girl group Atomic Kitten. She was born on July 17, 1982, in Liverpool, England. Natasha attended St. Sebastian’s Catholic Primary School and later Broughton Hall High School in Liverpool.
Natasha Hamilton’s career began when she joined the girl group Atomic Kitten in 1999. The group, originally formed by Andy McCluskey of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), underwent a lineup change with Hamilton replacing Heidi Range. Atomic Kitten quickly rose to fame with their catchy pop songs and energetic performances.
The group released their debut album, “Right Now,” in 2000, which included hit singles like “Whole Again” and “Eternal Flame.” “Whole Again” topped the charts in multiple countries and became one of the group’s signature songs. Atomic Kitten’s success continued with their second album, “Feels So Good” (2002), featuring hits like “The Tide Is High (Get the Feeling)” and “It’s OK!”
In 2004, Atomic Kitten went on a break, and Natasha Hamilton pursued solo projects. She appeared in various television shows and stage productions, including a role in the West End musical “Blood Brothers.” Hamilton also participated in reality TV shows such as “Celebrity Big Brother” and “The Real Housewives of Cheshire.”
Atomic Kitten reunited periodically for special performances and tours, including a notable reunion in 2013 for the Atomic Kitten “The Big Reunion” series, which brought together several popular bands from the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Natasha Hamilton’s net worth is $3 million. It has been accumulated through her successful music career with Atomic Kitten, solo projects, television appearances, and various business ventures.
Natasha Hamilton has had a colorful personal life with several high-profile relationships. She has four children: Josh (born 2002) with Fran Cosgrave, Harry (born 2004) with Gavin Hatcher, Alfie (born 2010) with Riad Erraji, and Ella (born 2014) with Ritchie Neville of the boy band Five.
She married Charles Gay in 2021, and the couple continues to share their life and adventures on social media.
Quick Fact About Natasha Hamilton
- Natasha Hamilton’s full name is Natasha Maria Hamilton.
- Her net worth is $3 million.
- Natasha has four children.
- She is well known as a member of the girl group Atomic Kitten.
Erle Stanley Gardner will have been 135 years old today.
Erle Stanley Gardner was a distinguished American author and lawyer. He was born on July 17, 1889, in Malden, Massachusetts, United States, to Charles Walter Gardner, a mining engineer, and Grace Adelma (Waugh) Gardner.
Gardner briefly attended Valparaiso University School of Law in Indiana but was suspended because of his interest in boxing. Despite this setback, he passed the California bar exam in 1911 after working three years as a typist at a law firm in Oxnard, California. He began his legal career as a trial lawyer defending underprivileged persons like Chinese and Mexican immigrants.
Gardner’s career took a turn when he decided to focus on writing. He began publishing stories in pulp magazines under various pseudonyms. His early work included stories for publications like The Police in the House. However, his creation of the fictional lawyer-detective Perry Mason would bring him lasting fame.
The first Perry Mason novel, “The Case of the Velvet Claws,” was published in 1933. The character of Perry Mason, a brilliant defense attorney who solves intricate mysteries, quickly became popular. Gardner wrote more than 80 Perry Mason novels, many of which were adapted into films, radio programs, and the long-running television series “Perry Mason,” which aired from 1957 to 1966, starring Raymond Burr.
In addition to his fiction, Gardner was a passionate advocate for the wrongfully accused. He founded “The Court of Last Resort,” a project dedicated to investigating and exonerating individuals who had been unjustly convicted. This endeavor highlighted Gardner’s commitment to justice and significantly impacted his legacy.
At the time of his death in 1970, Erle Stanley Gardner’s net worth was estimated to be $10 million. His fortune was accumulated through his extensive writing career, book sales, and royalties from film, radio, and television adaptations of his work.
Erle Stanley Gardner married Natalie Frances Talbert in 1912. The couple had one daughter, Grace Gardner, born in 1912. They stayed married until she died in 1968. He married again in 1968 to Agnes Jean Bethell.
The Mystery Writers of America awarded him the Grand Master Award in 1962, recognizing his significant contributions to the genre. His influence on legal and detective fiction has been profound, and his works remain popular with readers and viewers. He died at the age of 80 on March 11, 1970.
Quick Fact About Erle Stanley Gardner
- Erle Stanley Gardner was born in Malden, Massachusetts, United States.
- He was suspended in law because of her interest in boxing.
- Her net worth at the time of his death was $10 million.
- He died at the age of 80.
More Famous People’s Birth July 17.
Kenneth Wolstenholme, D.F.C., will have been 104 years old today.
BirthYear: 1920
Place Of Birth: Worsley, Lancashire, England
Profession: Football commentator
Donald Sutherland will have been 90 years old today.
BirthYear: 1934
Place Of Birth: Saint John, Canada
Profession: Actor
Diahann Carroll will have been 89 years old today.
BirthYear: 1935
Place Of Birth: The Bronx, New York, United States
Profession: Actress and Singer
Tim Brooke-Taylor will have been 84 years old today.
BirthYear: 1940
Place Of Birth: Buxton, United Kingdom
Profession: Actor and comedian
Spencer Davis will have been 82 years old today.
BirthYear: 1942
Place Of Birth: Swansea, United Kingdom
Profession: Musician
Wayne Sleep is 76 years old today.
BirthYear: 1948
Place Of Birth: Plymouth, United Kingdom
Profession: Dancer
David Hasselhoff is 72 years old today.
BirthYear: 1952
Place Of Birth: Baltimore, Maryland, United States
ProfessionActor and singer
Luke Bryan is 48 years old today.
BirthYear: 1976
Place Of Birth: Leesburg, Georgia, United States
Profession: Singer and songwriter
Angela Merkel is 70 years old today.
BirthYear: 1954
Place Of Birth: Hamburg, Germany
Profession: Former Chancellor of Germany
Billie Lourd is 32 years old today.
BirthYear: 1992
Place Of Birth: Los Angeles, California, United States
Profession: Actress
