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Today in History: Born onOctober 17

1821

Alexander Gardner, American photographer who documented the Civil War and the West.

1859

Childe Hassam, American impressionist painter and illustrator.

1895

Doris Humphrey, modern dance choreographer.

1903

Nathaneal West, novelist and screenwriter (Miss Lonely Hearts, The Day of the Locust).

1915

Arthur Miller, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright (Death of a Salesman, A View from the Bridge).

1918

Rita Hayworth, film actress.

1930

Jimmy Breslin, Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist, author and columnist.

1938

Evel Knievel, U.S. daredevil motorcycle stunt man.

1942

Gary Puckett, singer, songwriter; lead singer of Gary Puckett & The Union Gap ("Woman, Woman"; "Young Girl").

1946

Adam Michnik, Polish historian and editor-in-chief of Gazeta Wybocza, Poland's largest newspaper; named Europe's Man of the Year by La Vie magazine (1989).

1946

Michael Hossack, drummer for the Doobie Brothers band

1948

Margo Kidder, actress; best known for playing Lois Lane in four Superman movies between 1978 and 1987.

1958

Alan Jackson, country singer with over 60 million records sold worldwide; his many awards include 2 Grammys and 16 Country Music Association awards; "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning"; "Don't Rock the Jukebox."

1960

Rob Marshall, theater and film director, choreographer; awards include 4 Emmys and an Academy Award for Best Picture (Chicago, 2002).

1968

Ziggy Marley, Jamaican musician, leader of Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers; oldest son of reggae great Bob Marley.

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