Famous people and celebrities who died on February 17

Welcome to Takemeback.to's page dedicated to remembering the celebrities and famous people who passed away on February 17. On this day, we honor the lives and legacies of notable figures from various fields who left an indelible mark on the world. Explore our list to learn about their remarkable contributions and celebrate their enduring impact.

• 1715 Antoine Galland

  Famous for translating 'One Thousand and One Nights' into French.

• 1901 Ethelbert Nevin

  American composer and musician, whose image appeared on a ten-cent american stamp.

• 1909 Geronimo

  Renowned Apache leader known for his resistance against Mexican and American expansion.

• 1946 Dorothy Gibson

  Dorothy Gibson was an American actress, artist's model, and one of the first film stars. She is notably recognized for surviving the sinking of the RMS Titanic and subsequently starring in 'Saved from the Titanic,' a film based on her real-life experience. [bio]

• 1961 Nita Naldi

  Nita Naldi was an American silent film actress, known for her roles as a vamp in the 1920s. She appeared alongside major stars of the era, including Rudolph Valentino, and became one of the era's most recognized femme fatales. [bio]

• 1966 Hans Hofmann

  German/us painter (search for the real), reaches 85 years old.

• 1968 Donald Wolfit

  Donald Wolfit was an English actor-manager renowned for his stage performances, particularly in the plays of Shakespeare, and his dedication to touring classical theatre around Britain during the mid-20th century. [bio]

• 1970 Alfred Newman

  Renowned Hollywood film composer who won nine Academy Award nominations and significantly influenced film music during the mid-20th century.

• 1970 Shmuel Yosef Agnon

  Ukrainian-israeli novelist, short story writer, and poet, nobel prize laureate (b. 1888).

• 1982 Thelonious Monk

  Legendary jazz pianist and composer who revolutionized bebop music, known for his unique improvisational style and influential compositions.

• 1982 Lee Strasberg

  Influential acting coach and key figure in method acting, who trained numerous Hollywood stars and revolutionized acting techniques in the...

• 1982 Nestor Chylak

  Prominent Major League Baseball umpire who officiated in the American League from 1954 to 1978, known for his professionalism and respected...

• 1989 Lefty Gomez

  Legendary New York Yankees pitcher who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

• 1990 Jean-Marc Boivin

  Renowned French mountaineer and adventurer known for extreme skiing, speleology, and documentary filmmaking.

• 1994 Randy Shilts

  Renowned for his investigative journalism and advocacy for LGBTQ rights.

• 1996 Hervé Bazin

  Renowned French novelist celebrated for his insightful and humorous works exploring family dynamics and social relationships.

• 2004 José López Portillo

  Mexican politician and lawyer who served as the 51st President of Mexico from 1976 to 1982.

• 2005 Omar Sívori

  Legendary Argentine-Italian footballer known for his exceptional skills and playing career in both Argentina and Italy, particularly with...

• 2006 Bill Cowsill

  Bill Cowsill was a rock musician and vocalist from the Cowsills, a popular family band known for their hit 'We Can Fly' during the 1960s pop...

• 2010 Kathryn Grayson

  Kathryn Grayson was an American actress and coloratura soprano, best known for her starring roles in movie musicals during the 1940s and 1950s, particularly with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). [bio]

• 2012 Robert Carr

  British Conservative politician who served as Home Secretary and Leader of the House of Commons during the 1970s, playing a significant role...

• 2012 Ulric Neisser

  Ulric Neisser was a pioneering German-American psychologist known as the 'father of cognitive psychology' who made groundbreaking...

• 2013 Richard Briers

  Richard Briers was a distinguished English actor of stage, television, film, and radio, best known for his comedic and dramatic roles throughout a career spanning over five decades. [bio]

• 2013 Debbie Ford

  Influential self-help author and spiritual teacher who wrote transformative books about personal growth and shadow work.

• 2013 Mindy McCready

  Mindy McCready was a prominent American country music singer who rose to fame in the 1990s with hit songs like 'Guys Do It All the Time',...

• 2014 Bob Casale

  American musician, guitarist, and producer, member of the influential band Devo.

• 2015 Liu Yudi

  Chinese general and pilot (b. 1923).

• 2016 Mohamed Hassanein Heikal

  Prominent Egyptian journalist, political commentator, and influential writer who was a close confidant of President Gamal Abdel Nasser and...

• 2021 Rush Limbaugh

  Rush Limbaugh was a prominent American radio talk show host, commentator, and conservative political icon, famous for his influential program "The Rush Limbaugh Show" which aired nationwide for over three decades. [bio]