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August 17th
215 Notable deaths
Ken Miles
British racing driver (1918–1966).
Born November 1st, 1918 in Sutton Coldfield.
Died August 17th, 1966 at 47 years old in Riverside International Raceway.
Rudolf Hess
German nazi leader and reich minister without portfolio (1894–1987).
Born April 26th, 1894 in Alexandria.
Died August 17th, 1987 at 93 years old in Spandau Prison (asphyxia).
Terence Stamp
British actor (1938–2025).
Born July 22nd, 1938 in Stepney.
Died August 17th, 2025 at 87 years old in London. [ref]
Vivian Vance
American actress (1909–1979).
Born July 26th, 1909 in Cherryvale.
Died August 17th, 1979 at 70 years old in Belvedere (breast cancer, bone cancer).
Leo Frank
American factory superintendent and lynching victim (1884–1915).
Born April 17th, 1884 in Cuero.
Died August 17th, 1915 at 31 years old in Marietta (lynching).
Sonny Landham
American actor (1941–2017).
Born February 11th, 1941 in Canton.
Died August 17th, 2017 at 76 years old in Lexington (myocardial infarction). [ref]
Yvonne Craig
American actress (1937–2015).
Born May 16th, 1937 in Taylorville.
Died August 17th, 2015 at 78 years old in Pacific Palisades (breast cancer). [ref]
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
German architect (1886–1969).
Born March 27th, 1886 in Aachen. [ref]
Died August 17th, 1969 at 83 years old in Chicago.
Nishikant Kamat
Indian film director.
Born June 17th, 1970 in Malvan.
Died August 17th, 2020 at 50 years old in Hyderabad.
Pearl Bailey
American actress and singer (1918–1990).
Born March 29th, 1918 in Newport News.
Died August 17th, 1990 at 72 years old in Philadelphia (cardiovascular disease).
Cedric Benson
American football player (1982–2019).
Born December 28th, 1982 in Midland.
Died August 17th, 2019 at 36 years old in Austin (traffic collision).
Charlotte Perkins Gilman
American feminist, writer, artist, and lecturer (1860–1935).
Born July 3rd, 1860 in Hartford.
Died August 17th, 1935 at 75 years old in Pasadena.
Glenn Corbett
American actor (1933–1993).
Born August 17th, 1933 in El Monte.
Died August 17th, 1993 at 60 years old in San Antonio (lung cancer).
Jane Toppan
American serial killer (1854–1938).
Born March 31st, 1854 in Boston.
Died August 17th, 1938 at 84 years old in Taunton.
Ray Chapman
American baseball player (1891–1920).
Born January 15th, 1891 in Ohio County.
Died August 17th, 1920 at 29 years old in New York City (cranial trauma).
Ira Gershwin
American lyricist (1896–1983).
Born December 6th, 1896 in Manhattan.
Died August 17th, 1983 at 86 years old in Beverly Hills.
Paul Williams
American singer (1939–1973).
Born July 2nd, 1939 in Birmingham.
Died August 17th, 1973 at 34 years old in Detroit.
Bill Millin
Canadian musician (1922-2010).
Born July 14th, 1922 in Regina.
Died August 17th, 2010 at 88 years old in Torbay. [ref]
Jasraj
Indian classical singer (1930–2020).
Born January 28th, 1930 in Hisar.
Died August 17th, 2020 at 90 years old in New Jersey. [ref]
Victoria Shaw
Australian actress (1935-1988).
Born May 25th, 1935 in Sydney.
Died August 17th, 1988 at 53 years old in Sydney (pulmonary emphysema).
William Redfield
American actor (1927-1976).
Born January 26th, 1927 in New York City.
Died August 17th, 1976 at 49 years old in New York City (leukemia).
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Jr.
American politician (1914–1988).
Born August 17th, 1914 in Campobello Island.
Died August 17th, 1988 at 74 years old in Poughkeepsie (lung cancer).
Arthur Hiller
Canadian-american director (1923-2016).
Born November 22nd, 1923 in Edmonton.
Died August 17th, 2016 at 92 years old in Los Angeles. [ref]
Fernand Léger
French painter (1881–1955).
Born February 4th, 1881 in Argentan.
Died August 17th, 1955 at 74 years old in Gif-sur-Yvette.
Eddie Griffin
American basketball player (1982-2007).
Born May 30th, 1982 in Philadelphia.
Died August 17th, 2007 at 25 years old in Houston (traffic collision). [ref]
Deaths 1 to 25 of 215
The idea is to die young as late as possible. Ashley Montagu