Today's celebrity birthdays: August 17, 2025

Happy birthday to entertainers like Robert De Niro, Sean Penn, and Donnie Wahlberg! Keep on reading to see who else is celebrating their birthday and some career highlights!

Celebrity birthday highlights for August 17, 2025:

• Actor Robert De Niro (1943) forged a legendary run with Martin Scorsese on "Mean Streets," "Taxi Driver," "Raging Bull," and "Casino," while co-founding Tribeca Festival. His more recent work includes "Killers of the Flower Moon," the 2025 limited series "Zero Day," and "The Alto Knights."

• Singer Belinda Carlisle (1958) broke out as the lead singer of new-wave group The Go-Go's and parlayed it into solo pop with "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" and "Mad About You." She reunited with Diane Warren for the 2023 EP "Kismet," announced the 2025 covers album "Once Upon a Time in California," and lined up a UK and Europe tour this fall.

• Actor Sean Penn (1960) earned two Oscars for "Mystic River" and "Milk," anchoring a career that ranges from "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" to "The Thin Red Line." Recent highlights include the two-hander "Daddio" and the EMT thriller "Black Flies," which premiered at Cannes in 2024.

• Actor-singer Donnie Wahlberg (1969) spun his New Kids on the Block fame into screen longevity with "The Sixth Sense," "Saw" films, and 14 seasons as Detective Danny Reagan on "Blue Bloods." He now headlines the upcoming CBS spinoff "Boston Blue" while keeping NKOTB in the spotlight with the 2024 album "Still Kids."

Other celebs celebrating birthdays today:

Business executive Larry Ellison (1944), Guitarist Gary Talley of The Box Tops (1947), Author Julian Fellowes (1949), Actor Robert Joy (1951), Singer Kevin Rowland of Dexy's Midnight Runners (1953), Bassist Colin Moulding of XTC (1955), Country singer-songwriter Kevin Welch (1955), Jazz saxophonist Everette Harp (1961), Guitarist Gilby Clarke (Guns N' Roses) (1962), Singer Maria McKee (1964), Drummer Steve Gorman of The Black Crowes (1965), Singer-bassist Jill Cunniff of Luscious Jackson (1966), Actor David Conrad (1967), Rapper Posdnuos of De La Soul (1969), TV personality Giuliana Rancic (1974), Actor Bryton James (1986), Rapper Joyner Lucas (1988), Actor Brady Corbet (1988), Actress Taissa Farmiga (1994), Singer Phoebe Bridgers (1994), Actor Austin Butler (1991)