Famous People Who Died Of Cancer

Right IconThis ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet.

Cancer has been known to be the #2nd biggest killer in developed countries while it takes the crown to become the #1 in the underdeveloped. Though there aren’t any ground breaking solutions for cancer, the latter stages of it can be prevented by early detections and medications. But the treatments that come with exorbitant bills prove to become unachievable for the under developing countries, which lead to massive death rates. Dig into the matter and cancer is mostly the consequence of poor diet and lifestyle habits, and also the lack of information regarding the symptoms. Cancer is deadly and can affect almost any part of the body and a very small percentage of it is caused by genetic links. Cancer never really goes well with anyone diagnosed with it, worst of which is when kids are affected. According to a source, more than 40 kids are diagnosed with cancer almost every day and is known to be the #1 cause of death in children. Switching gears and looking into the cause of deaths in the music and movie industry, there are a number of artists who have lost their battles against cancer. Though some of them recovered and were blessed to be given a second chance at life, actors like Paul Newman, Farah Fawcett, Alan Rickman, and Dennis Hopper, who were gone too soon due to cancer. Musicians like David Bowie, Bob Marley, and Frank Sinatra are few names who shook the music industry by their sudden deaths because of cancer. This isn’t it- keep reading and find out more about the life of these famous people who died of cancer.
Vote for Your Favourite People Who Died Of Cancer
 1 
Dr. Seuss
(Children's Author And Illustrator)
Dr. Seuss
64
Birthdate: March 2, 1904
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Springfield, Massachusetts, United States
Died: September 24, 1991
 2 
Philip II of Spain
(King of Spain (1556 - 1598), King of Portugal (1580 - 1598))
Philip II of Spain
27
Birthdate: May 21, 1527
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Valladolid, Spain
Died: September 13, 1598
 3 
Desmond Tutu
(First Black African Archbishop of Cape Town & Nobel Peace Prize Winner)
Desmond Tutu
65
Birthdate: October 7, 1931
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Klerksdorp, South Africa
Died: December 26, 2021
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
Recommended Lists:
 4 
Paul Allen
(Co-founder of Microsoft, Philanthropist)
Paul Allen
26
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: January 21, 1953
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Seattle
Died: October 15, 2018
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
Recommended Lists:
 5 
John Hurt
(Actor)
John Hurt
19
Birthdate: January 22, 1940
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England, UK
Died: January 27, 2017
 6 
Jeff Healey
(Singer)
Jeff Healey
25
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: March 25, 1966
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Toronto
Died: March 2, 2008
 7 
Diana Rigg
(British Actress Known for Her Roles in 'The Avengers', 'Game of Thrones', 'Medea')
Diana Rigg
19
Birthdate: July 20, 1938
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Doncaster, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Died: September 10, 2020
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 8 
Levon Helm
(Singer, Musician, Autobiographer, Composer, Actor, Mandolinist, Drummer, Songwriter)
Levon Helm
9
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: May 26, 1940
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Elaine
Died: April 19, 2012
Recommended Lists:
 9 
Tony Gwynn
(Baseball Player)
Tony Gwynn
5
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 9, 1960
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
Died: June 16, 2014
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 10 
Johnny Ramone
(Guitarist)
Johnny Ramone
8
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: October 8, 1948
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Queens, New York City, New York, USA
Died: September 15, 2004
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 11 
Catherine of Aragon
(Queen Consort of England (1509 - 1533))
Catherine of Aragon
29
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: December 16, 1485
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Alcala de Henares, Spain
Died: January 7, 1536
 12 
Syd Barrett
(Singer-songwriter)
Syd Barrett
21
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: January 6, 1946
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Cambridge
Died: July 7, 2006
 13 
Gilda Radner
(Comedian)
Gilda Radner
13
Birthdate: June 28, 1946
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States
Died: May 20, 1989
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
 14 
Tokugawa Ieyasu
(Military Leader)
Tokugawa Ieyasu
19
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: January 31, 1543
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Okazaki Castle, Mikawa (now Okazaki, Japan)
Died: June 1, 1616
 15 
Anne of Cleves
(Former Queen Consort of England (January 1540 - July 1540))
Anne of Cleves
15
Birthdate: September 22, 1515
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Düsseldorf, Germany
Died: July 16, 1557
 16 
Merlin Olsen
(American Football Player)
Merlin Olsen
9
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: September 15, 1940
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Logan, Utah, USA
Died: March 11, 2010
Height: 6'5" (196 cm)
 17 
Michelle Thomas
19
Birthdate: September 23, 1968
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts
Died: December 22, 1998
Height: 5'0" (152 cm)
 18 
Erin Moran
(Actress)
Erin Moran
9
Birthdate: October 18, 1960
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Burbank, California, United States
Died: April 22, 2017
Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
 19 
Robert Vaughn
7
Birthdate: November 22, 1922
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Charity Hospital in New York City
Died: November 11, 2016
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 20 
Allen Ludden
(Game Show Host)
Allen Ludden
24
Birthdate: October 5, 1917
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Mineral Point, Wisconsin
Died: June 9, 1981
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 21 
Dom DeLuise
(Actor)
Dom DeLuise
11
Birthdate: August 1, 1933
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Died: May 4, 2009
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 22 
Markie Post
(Best Known for Her Role as ‘Terri Michaels’ in the TV Series ‘The Fall Guy’)
Markie Post
31
Birthdate: November 4, 1950
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Palo Alto, California, United States
Died: August 7, 2021
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
 23 
David Ogden Stiers
(Actor)
David Ogden Stiers
4
Birthdate: October 31, 1942
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Peoria, Illinois, USA
Died: March 3, 2018
Height: 6'4" (193 cm)
 24 
Kevin Conroy
(Actor)
Kevin Conroy
1
Birthdate: November 30, 1955
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Westbury, New York, United States
Died: November 10, 2022
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 25 
Adam Yauch
(Founding Member of the Hip Hop Group ‘Beastie Boys’)
Adam Yauch
14
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: August 5, 1964
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Died: May 4, 2012
 26 
Molly Brown
(American Socialite, Philanthropist and Actress Who Survived the Sinking of the Titanic)
Molly Brown
9
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: July 18, 1867
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Hannibal, Missouri, United States
Died: October 26, 1932
 27 
Vivian Vance
(Actress)
Vivian Vance
8
Birthdate: July 26, 1909
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Cherryvale, Kansas
Died: August 17, 1979
 28 
Cynthia Lennon
(John Lennon's Ex-Wife)
Cynthia Lennon
10
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: September 10, 1939
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Blackpool, England
Died: April 1, 2015
Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
 29 
Amrish Puri
(Actor)
Amrish Puri
8
Birthdate: June 22, 1932
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Nawanshahr, Jullundur, Punjab, British India
Died: January 12, 2005
 30 
Gloria Grahame
(Actress)
Gloria Grahame
7
Birthdate: November 28, 1923
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
Died: October 5, 1981
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
 31 
King Hussein of Jordan
(King of Jordan from 1952 to 1999)
King Hussein of Jordan
9
Birthdate: November 14, 1935
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Amman, Jordan
Died: February 7, 1999
 32 
Jimmy Snuka
(American Professional Wrestler)
Jimmy Snuka
12
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 18, 1943
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Suva, Fiji
Died: January 15, 2017
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 33 
Milton Berle
(American Actor and Comedian Who Became the First Major American Television Star)
Milton Berle
10
Birthdate: July 12, 1908
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: New York City, New York, U.S.
Died: March 27, 2002
 34 
Peter Maivia
(Samoan-American Professional Wrestler)
Peter Maivia
6
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: April 6, 1937
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: American Samoa
Died: June 13, 1982
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 35 
John Thaw
(Actor)
John Thaw
10
Birthdate: January 3, 1942
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: West Gorton, Manchester, England, UK
Died: February 21, 2002
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 36 
DeForest Kelley
(Best Known for His Role as ‘Dr. Leonard McCoy’ in the TV Series ‘Star Trek’)
DeForest Kelley
6
Birthdate: January 20, 1920
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Toccoa, Georgia, United States
Died: June 11, 1999
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 37 
Diana Dors
(English Actress and a 'Sex Symbol' of the Mid 20th Century)
Diana Dors
7
Birthdate: October 23, 1931
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Swindon, Wiltshire, England
Died: May 4, 1984
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 38 
Karen Black
(American Actress, Screenwriter and Singer)
Karen Black
5
Birthdate: July 1, 1939
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Park Ridge, Illinois, United States
Died: August 8, 2013
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 39 
Cassandra Harris
13
Birthdate: December 15, 1948
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Sydney
Died: December 28, 1991
 40 
Sydney Pollack
(Film Director and Producer Best Known for His Movie 'Out of Africa')
Sydney Pollack
8
Birthdate: July 1, 1934
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Lafayette, Indiana, United States
Died: May 26, 2008
 41 
David Lean
(English Film Director and Producer Who is Considered One of the Most Important Figures in British Cinema)
David Lean
3
Birthdate: March 25, 1908
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Croydon, Surrey, England
Died: April 16, 1991
 42 
Dan Fogelberg
(Musician)
Dan Fogelberg
6
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: August 13, 1951
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Peoria, Illinois, USA
Died: December 16, 2007
 43 
Roger Maris
(Baseball player)
Roger Maris
3
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: September 10, 1934
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Hibbing, Minnesota, United States
Died: December 14, 1985
 44 
Jackie Collins
(Novelist)
Jackie Collins
11
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: October 4, 1937
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: London, England, UK
Died: September 19, 2015
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 45 
Tommy Ramone
(Best Known as the Drummer for the Influential Punk Rock Band the ‘Ramones’)
Tommy Ramone
4
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: January 29, 1949
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Budapest, Hungary
Died: July 11, 2014
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 46 
Alan Hale Jr.
(Actor)
Alan Hale Jr.
13
Birthdate: March 8, 1921
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
Died: January 2, 1990
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 47 
Robert Guillaume
(Actor)
Robert Guillaume
5
Birthdate: November 30, 1927
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Died: October 24, 2017
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 48 
Joel Schumacher
(Director, screenwriter, producer)
Joel Schumacher
3
Birthdate: August 29, 1939
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States
Died: June 22, 2020
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 49 
Oscar de la Renta
(Fashion Designer)
Oscar de la Renta
12
Listed In: Fashion
Birthdate: July 22, 1932
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Died: October 20, 2014
 50 
Aneta Corsaut
(Actress)
Aneta Corsaut
10
Birthdate: November 3, 1933
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Hutchinson, Kansas, United States
Died: November 6, 1995
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)