Born on this day – Susan Beth Pfeffer:

Susan Beth Pfeffer

Writer

February 17, 1948 – June 23, 2025

Credits:

Books:

A Gift for Amy (1999); A Gift for Beth (1999); A Gift for Jo (1999); A Gift for Meg (1999); A Matter of Principle (1982); About David (1980); After (2012); Amy Makes a Friend (1998); Amy's Story (1997); April Upstairs (1990); Awful Evelina (1979); Beth Makes a Friends (1998); Beth's Story (1997); Better Than All Right (1972); Birthday Wishes (1999); Blood Wounds (2011); Christmas Dreams (1998); Claire At Sixteen (1989); Courage Dana (1983); Darcy Downstairs (1990); Dear Dad, Love Laurie (1989); Devil's Den (1998); Evvie At Sixteen (1988); Family of Strangers (1992); Fantasy Summer (1984); Future Forward (1989); Getting Even (1986); Ghostly Tales (2000); Hard Times High (1986); Head of the Class (1989); Jo Makes a Friend (1998); Jo's Story (1997); Just Between Us (1980); Just Morgan (1970); Justice for Emily (1997); Kid Power (1977); Kid Power Strikes Back (1984); Life as We Knew It (2006); Love Scenes (1986); Make Believe (1993); Marly the Kid (1975); Meg At Sixteen (1990); Meg Makes a Friend (1998); Meg's Story (1997); Most Precious Blood (1991); Nobody's Daughter (1995); On the Move (1985); Paper Dolls (1984); Places I Never Meant to Be (1999); Prime Time (1985); Quilt Masterpieces (1998); Rainbows and Fireworks (1973); Revenge of the Aztecs (2001); Rewind to Yesterday (1988); Sara Kate Saves the World (1995); Sara Kate, Superkid (1994); Starring Peter and Leigh (1979); Starting With Melodie (1982); Sybil At Sixteen (1989); Take Two And...rolling! (1988); The Beauty Queen (1974); The Dead and the Gone (2008); The Friendship Pact (1986); The Pizza Puzzle (1996); The Riddle Streak (1993); The Ring of Truth (1993); The Shade of the Moon (2013); The Trouble with Wishes (1996); The Year Without Michael (1987); Thea At Sixteen (1988); This World We Live In (2010); Truth or Dare (1984); Turning Thirteen (1988); Twice Taken (1994); Twin Surprises (1991); Twin Troubles (1992); Wanting It All (1985); What Do You Do When Your Mouth Won't Open? (1981); Whatever Words You Want to Hear (1974); Who Were They Really? (1999); You can write children's books in your spare time (1993).

Born on this day – Zina Bethune:

Zina Bethune

Actress

Dancer

Choreographer

February 17, 1945 – February 12, 2012

Credits:

ABC Afterschool Specials (1980); Cain's Hundred (1962); CHiPs (1977); Emergency! (1974–1976); Forgotten City of the Planet of the Apes (1980); Guiding Light (1956–1958); Gunsmoke (1974); Hollywood Mavericks (1990); Kraft Theatre (1948); Kraft Theatre / The United States Steel Hour (1959–1961); L.A. Woman (2013); Lamp Unto My Feet (1961); Lancer (1970); Little Women (1958); Love of Life (1951–1980); Naked City (1960); Nutcracker: Money, Madness & Murder (1987); Party of Five (1995); Planet of the Apes (1974); Play of the Week (1961); Police Story (1978); Route 66 (1960–1962); Santa Barbara (1986); Special for Women: The Cold Woman (1960); Stump the Stars (1963); Sunday Showcase (1959); Sunrise at Campobello (1960); The Boost (1988); The Doctors and the Nurses (1962–1965); The Filmmaker (1969); The First Hollywood Hero Awards (2006); The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries (1978); The Invaders (1967); The Judy Garland Show (1963); The Mike Douglas Show (1965); The Next Step Beyond (1978); Who's That Knocking at My Door (1967); Wings of Legacy (2006); Young Dr. Kildare (1973); Young Dr. Malone (1958–1963); Your First Impression (1964).

Born on this day – James Laurenson:

James Laurenson

Actor

February 17, 1940 – April 28, 2024

Credits:

Book:

Light Thickens, by Ngaio Marsh (1982) / included in dedication.

Movies and television:

A House in the Hills (1993); A Perfect State (1997); A Spy at Evening (1981); A Summer in Genoa (2008); AfterLife (2003); Alleyn Mysteries (1994); Anno Domini (1976); Armchair Cinema (1974); Armchair Thriller (1978); Artists and Models (1986); Bergerac (1988); Between the Lines (1992); Boney (1972–1973); Boon (1991); Born and Bred (2004); Bye Bye Columbus (1991); Cagney & Lacey (1984); Capital News (1990); Centre Play (1976); Codename: Kyril (1988); Coronation Street (1968); Countdown to War (1989); Crown Court (1975–1977); Dalziel and Pascoe (2004); Dangerfield (1999); Days of Our Lives (1985); Dead Bolt Dead (1999); Edward II (1970); Elizabeth R (1971); Endeavour (2017); Esther Waters (1977); Father Brown (2014–2017); Fathers and Sons (1971); Fox Mystery Theater (1984); Frost in May (1982); Ghostboat (2006); Hammer House of Horror (1980); Heartbeat (2001); Heartbreakers (1984); Hedda Gabler / The Lady from the Sea (1974); Holy Flying Circus (2011); Hustle (2004); In Defence (2000); In the Devil's Garden (1971); Inspector Morse (1987); ITV Playhouse (1973); ITV Saturday Night Theatre (1970); Jackanory (1977–1979); Jackanory Playhouse (1976); Lovejoy (1992); Margaret Thatcher: The Long Walk to Finchley (2008); Matilda: The Musical (2022); MI-5 (2004–2007); Midsomer Murders (2000); Misfits of Science (1986); Mr Duncan (2015); My Dad's the Prime Minister (2003); National Theatre Live: Hamlet (2010); National Theatre Live: The Cherry Orchard (2011); One Day (2011); Pink Floyd: The Wall (1982); Play for Today (1971–1980); Pop Culture Beast's Halloween Horror Picks / Raven - the Shadmock (2015); Prime Suspect: Inner Circles (1995); Private Peaceful (2012); Project: Tinman (1990); Public Eye (1971); Quacks (2017); Quiller (1975); Rainbow Drive (1990); Remington Steele (1984); Romance (1977); Shakespeare's Globe Theatre: The Comedy of Errors (2015); Sharpe (1996–1997); Sharpe's Eagle (1997); Silent Witness (2003); Space: 1999 (1976); State of Play (2003); Stingray (1986); Table 12 (2001); Taggart (1988–1995); The 15th Annual TV Week Logie Awards (1973); The Bourne Identity (1988); The Bretts (1987); The Care of Time (1990); The Cat's Meow (2001); The Cold Light of Day (1996); The Crown (2016–2017); The Cry (2002); The Duchess of Duke Street (1976); The Duchess of Duke Street (1976); The Expert (1969); The Girls of Slender Means (1975); The Hollow Crown (2012); The Insiders (1985); The Magic Christian (1969); The Man Inside (1990); The Man Who Fell to Earth (1987); The Monster Club / Shadmock Story (1981); The Professionals (1979); The Riot Club (2014); The Shadow of the Tower (1972); The Terror (2018); The Tragedy of King Richard II (1970); The Turn of the Screw (1974); The Vanishing Man (1997); The Wars of the Roses (1965); The Widower (2014); The Witches of Pendle (1976); Thief Takers (1997); Thieves in the Night (1988); Thirty-Minute Theatre (1971); This Is Personal: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper (2000); 3 Blind Mice (2003); Treasure Island (1968); Trial by Fire (1999); Van der Valk (1992); Wolf Hall (2015); Women in Love (1969); You Only Live Twice: The Radio Play (1990); Z Cars (1969).

Born on this day – Mary Ann Mobley:

Mary Ann Mobley

Actress

February 17, 1937 – December 9, 2014

Credits:

33rd Miss America Pageant / Miss America 1959 (1959); 70th Annual Miss America Pageant (1990); ABC's Nightlife (1965); AFI Life Achievement Award (1973); All Star Secrets (1979); All-Star Party for 'Dutch' Reagan (1985); American Experience (2002); Bandit: Bandit Bandit (1994); Be Our Guest (1960); Beat the Clock (1979); Body Language (1984–1985); Born Free (1974); Break the Bank (1976); Burke's Law (1963–1965); Card Sharks (1980); Circus of the Stars #2 (1977); Circus of the Stars #3 (1979); Circus of the Stars #4 (1979); Circus of the Stars (1977); Crook & Chase (1996); Cupcake Wars (2012); Custer (1967); Dance Fever (1980); Dateline: Hollywood (1967); Dead Like Me (2003); Designing Women (1990); Diff'rent Strokes (1980–1986); Dream Girl of '67 (1967); E! True Hollywood Story (1998); Falcon Crest (1988); Family Feud / All-Star Family Feud Special (1983); Fantasy Island (1978–1984); Flying High (1979); For Singles Only (1968); General Hospital (1963); Get the Message (1964); Get Yourself a College Girl (1964); Girl Happy (1965); God Bless Mr. Ferguson (1971); Gypsy (1966–1967); Hardball (1994); Harum Scarum (1965); He Said, She Said (1970); Hearts Afire (1992); Homes of Miss America (2001); Hotel (1984); Hour Magazine (1980–1988); Intimate Portrait (1999); Iron Horse (1967); Ironside (1969); Istanbul Express (1968); It Takes Two (1970); It's Howdy Doody Time (1987); It's Your Bet (1970–1972); Joanne Carson's VIPs (1972); Life with Linkletter (1970); Lifestyle Magazine (2008); Lou Rawls Parade of Stars (1988); Love, American Style / Love and the Seven-Year Wait / Love and the Man Next Door / Love and the Young Unmarrieds (1969–1973); March of Dimes Telethon (1985); Match Game (1973–1977); Match Game PM (1975–1980); Matt Houston (1983); Miss America Pageant (1958); Miss America: Beyond the Crown (1994); Mission: Impossible (1966); Mississippi Rising (2005); My Brother the Angel (1966); Pat Boone in Hollywood (1967); Perry Mason (1964–1966); Police Story (1974); Run for Your Life (1965–1966); Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1999); Search (1972); Showoffs (1975); Stars Over Mississippi (1999); Super Bloopers and Practical Jokes (1984–1988); Super Password (1986); Take a Good Look (1959); Tattletales (1974–1977); Tattletales (1982); That Regis Philbin Show (1965); The 37th Annual Thalians Ball (1992); The Big Event (1978); The Definitive Elvis: The Hollywood Years - Part II: 1962-1969 (2002); The Fantastic Journey (1977); The Girl on the Late, Late Show (1974); The Hollywood Deb Stars of 1965 (1965); The Home Show (1988–1994); The Joey Bishop Show (1969); The King's Pirate (1967); The Kraft Music Hall (1971); The Lie (1973); The Love Boat (1978–1985); The Magical World of Disney (1969–1980); The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1966); The Mike Douglas Show (1963–1979); The Milton Berle Show (1966); The New Hollywood Squares (1987–1989); The New Perry Mason (1973); The Partridge Family (1973); The Pat Boone Show (1967); The Sixth Sense (1972); The Steve Allen Plymouth Show (1958); The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1963–1971); The Virginia Graham Show (1971); The Virginian (1967); Three on a Couch (1966); To Rome with Love (1970); To Tell the Truth (1990); Valentine's Day (1965); Vega$ (1980); Wedding Day (1981); Whew! (1979–1980); You Don't Say (1965–1968); Young Dillinger (1965).

Born on this day – Barry Humphries:

Barry Humphries

Comedian

Actor

Writer

Satirist

February 17, 1934 – April 22, 2023

Born on this day – Alan Bates:

Alan Bates

Actor

February 17, 1934 – December 27, 2003

Born on this day – Ruth Rendell:

Ruth Rendell

Writer

February 17, 1930 – May 2, 2015

Credits:

Books:

13 Steps Down (2004); A Dark-Adapted Eye (1986); A Demon in My View (1976); A Fatal Inversion (1987); A Guilty Thing Surprised (1970); A Judgement in Stone (1977); A Sight for Sore Eyes (1998); A Sleeping Life (1978); A Spot of Folly (2017); Adam and Eve and Pinch Me (2001); An Unkindness of Ravens (1985); Archie and Archie (2013); Asta's Book / Anna's Book (1993); BBC Radio Drama Collection (2019); Birthday Present (2008); Blood Lines (1995); Collected Short Stories (1989); Collected Stories Vol 1 (2006); Dark Corners (2015); Death Notes / Put On By Cunning (1981); End in Tears (2005); From Doon With Death (1964); Gallowglass (1990); Ginger and the Kingsmarkham (1992); Going Wrong (1990); Grasshopper (2000); Harm Done (1999); Heartstones (1987); In the Time of His Prosperity (1995); King Solomon's Carpet (1991); Kissing the Gunner's Daughter (1992); Live Flesh (1986); Long Live The Queen (1991); Make Death Love Me (1979); Master of the Moor (1982); Means of Evil (1979); Minotaur (2005); Murder Being Once Done (1972); No Man's Nightingale (2013); No More Dying Then (1971); No Night Is Too Long (1994); Not in the Flesh (2007); One Across, Two Down (1971); Piranha to Scurfy (2000); Portobello (2008); Road Rage (1997); Ruth Rendell: Short Stories (2006); Ruth Rendell's Suffolk (1992); Shake Hands Forever (1975); Simisola (1994); Sins of the Fathers / A New Lease of Death (1967); Some Lie and Some Die (1973); Speaker of Mandarin (1983); Talking to Strange Men (1987); The Babes in the Wood (2002); The Best Man to Die (1969); The Blood Doctor (2002); The Bridesmaid (1989); The Brimstone Wedding (1995); The Child's Child (2012); The Chimney Sweeper's Boy (1998); The Convolvulus Clock (1985); The Copper Peacock and Other Stories (1991); The Crocodile Bird (1993); The Face of Trespass (1974); The Fallen Curtain (1976); The Fever Tree (1982); The Girl Next Door (2014); The House of Stairs (1988); The Keys to the Street (1996); The Killing Doll (1984); The Lake of Darkness (1980); The Monster in the Box (2009); The New Girlfriend (1985); The Reason Why (1995); The Rottweiler (2003); The Saint Zita Society (2012); The Secret House Of Death (1968); The Thief (2005); The Tree of Hands (1984); The Vault (2011); The Veiled One (1988); The Water's Lovely (2006); Thornapple (1998); Tigerlily's Orchids (2010); To Fear a Painted Devil (1965); Vanity Dies Hard (1966); Wolf to the Slaughter (1967).

Movies and television:

13 Steps Down (2012); A Dark Adapted Eye (1994); A Demon in My View (1991); A Fatal Inversion (1992); A Judgment in Stone (1986); A Pleasant Terror: The Life and Ghost of M.R. James (1995); A Sight for Sore Eyes (2003); Alias Betty (2001); Bestseller (2002); Bookmark (1986); Bouillon de culture (2000); Cover to Cover (1987); Daphne Du Maurier - A Loving Spirit (1997); Das Literaturmagazin (1990); Diary of the Dead (1976); Drama Trails (2008); Faulks on Fiction (2011); Forty Years at the I.C.A. (1987); George Baker: Wexford and Me (2008); Imagine (2012); Innocent Victim (1989); La Cérémonie (1995); Late Review (2011); Le masque (1989); Live Flesh (1997); Loopy (2004); M.R. James: The Corner of the Retina (2004); Mystery!: Gallowglass (1993); No Night Is Too Long (2002); Out on Four (1989); Permis de penser (2006); Profiling (2008); Ruth Rendell Mysteries (1987–2000); Screen Two (1988); Sleuths, Sorcerers & Spies: Andrew Marr's Paperback Heroes (2016); Tales of the Unexpected (1981–1985); The Bridesmaid (2004); The Culture Show (2011); The Face of Trespass (1988); The New Girlfriend (2014); The South Bank Show (2004); The Write Stuff (1989); This Is Your Life (1995); This Morning (2008); Valentin Valentin (2014); Whodunnit? (1982); Without Walls (1992).