| 118831 | October 17 | Birth | 1935 – Michael Eavis, English farmer, founded the Glastonbury Festival |
| 118832 | October 17 | Birth | 1936 – Sathima Bea Benjamin, South African singer-songwriter (d. 2013) |
| 118833 | October 17 | Birth | 1936 – Hiroo Kanamori, Japanese-American seismologist and academic |
| 118834 | October 17 | Birth | 1937 – Paxton Whitehead, English actor |
| 118835 | October 17 | Birth | 1938 – Evel Knievel, American motorcycle rider and stuntman (d. 2007) |
| 118836 | October 17 | Birth | 1938 – Les Murray, Australian anthologist, poet, and critic |
| 118837 | October 17 | Birth | 1939 – Oliver Rackham, English botanist and academic |
| 118838 | October 17 | Birth | 1940 – Stephen Kovacevich, American pianist and conductor |
| 118839 | October 17 | Birth | 1940 – Jim Smith, English footballer and manager |
| 118840 | October 17 | Birth | 1940 – Peter Stringfellow, English businessman |
| 118841 | October 17 | Birth | 1941 – Earl Thomas Conley, American singer-songwriter and guitarist |
| 118842 | October 17 | Birth | 1942 – Steve Jones, American basketball player and sportscaster |
| 118843 | October 17 | Birth | 1946 – Ronni Chasen, American publicist (d. 2010) |
| 118844 | October 17 | Birth | 1946 – Michael Hossack, American drummer (The Doobie Brothers) (d. 2012) |
| 118845 | October 17 | Birth | 1946 – Cameron Mackintosh, English producer and manager |
| 118846 | October 17 | Birth | 1946 – Adam Michnik, Polish journalist and historian |
| 118847 | October 17 | Birth | 1946 – Drusilla Modjeska, English-Australian author and critic |
| 118848 | October 17 | Birth | 1946 – Bob Seagren, American pole vaulter and actor |
| 118849 | October 17 | Birth | 1947 – Simi Garewal, Indian actress and director |
| 118850 | October 17 | Birth | 1947 – Gene Green, American lawyer and politician |
| 118851 | October 17 | Birth | 1947 – Michael McKean, American singer-songwriter, actor, and director |
| 118852 | October 17 | Birth | 1948 – Robert Jordan, American soldier and author (d. 2007) |
| 118853 | October 17 | Birth | 1948 – Margot Kidder, Canadian-American actress |
| 118854 | October 17 | Birth | 1948 – Michael Lynch, American sociologist and academic |
| 118855 | October 17 | Birth | 1948 – George Wendt, American actor |
| 118856 | October 17 | Birth | 1949 – Owen Arthur, Barbadian economist and politician, 5th Prime Minister of Barbados |
| 118857 | October 17 | Birth | 1950 – Philippe Barbarin, French cardinal |
| 118858 | October 17 | Birth | 1950 – Howard Rollins, American actor (d. 1996) |
| 118859 | October 17 | Birth | 1951 – Annie Borckink, Dutch speed skater |
| 118860 | October 17 | Birth | 1951 – Roger Pontare, Swedish singer |